


THE PIEKEE TBAIL. 

A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS. 
By Dr. Albert Carr. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 



A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS. 



By Dr. Albert Carr. 



MS. Copyriqht by the avthor, 
July 3, 1911. 

Copyright, 1911 by Albert Carr. 
All rights reserved. 



OAUTIGN. The) presentation of this drama for 
profit withont the permission of it's proprietor 
is strictly forbidden. Managers desiring to 
proAac* this drama are respectfully reqnewted 
to eonimanieate with the author. 



HIX.L CITY 8. D. 
1911 



<^r^ 



CAST OP CHARACTERS. 

HAM MORDEN . A squaw-man living on the 
Cheyenne river. 

MAJOR DAN CORBIN. A young trader 
keeping store at the Pierre crossing on the 
Cheyenne river. Commissioned by the governor 
to command cowboy and settler against the 
Sioux, 

MARK NEWELL. An early emigrant to tha 
Black Hills. A seeker of gold. 

JIM OKOBOJI. A half-breed educated by 
the government. Horse thief and all around 
bad man, 

HANS FLEDERMAUS, A German in search 
of a homestead, 

"SMUDGE." A white boy brought up by 
Jim Okoboji's mother. 

MAHZAHSKAH. A Sioux Indian. The 
white man's f nend: 

RED DOG. Shunksba, a Sioux chief. 

ROSE. A white girl claimed by Ham 
Morden as his daughter. She is engaged to 
Maj. Corbin. 

WIX, Morden's squaw. Sister of Red Dog, 

KATREENA. Wife of Hans. 



SYNOPSIS. ACT I, R,-im Morden's crime. 
ACT II. To be shot at midnight. ACT III. 
Not guilty. ACT IV. Death of the squaw. 
ACT V, Christmas eve. 



©CID 24790 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

ACT I. 

SCENE. Home of Ham Morden 
on the border of the Sioux reserva- 
tion. Long, low, log-house R. 
Buffalo skull over door. Cheyenne 
river winding, rear. Clayey walls 
of the Bad-lands in distance. Rough 
bench near house. Paddle on bench. 
Rude, rustic, chair with wolf skin 
robe, back under low cottonwood in 
R. 

Enter Wix from ho-um. 
Wix. Wanneechee! Lahkohtah wash- 
tay. 

[Exit, L. 
Enter Ham Morden from house. 
Ham. Last night, I could not sleep. 
The moaDingr wind and coyote's whine 
stretched out the lonesome hours. At 
last, my mind broke from me like a 
frightened horse. T'was then— Oh, 
horror!— I saw it all acfaio. The flicker- 
ing fire— the ghostly canvas of the 



i irlE FiKKKE TitAlL. 

wH'^na —her outstretched arms — the 
chWd — [Crazed, j^oints wildly.] There- 
there she is now! 

Enter Wix, L. with a bundle 
'^/ faggots. 

Wix. What mntter, Ham? 

Ham. Nothing-only one of my 
BpellE. 

Wix. No like um spell. Me kill 
somebody, no have spell all tim*^ 

Ham You hag of darkness! 

[Pick a up paddle. 

Wix. Me Wix, Ham's squaw 

Ham. Begone, hellion! 
[Threatens her with paddle. She 
hankies to house. 

Wix. {Afiide.) llim crazy. Get too 
crazy, kill um. (7'o Hani,) Where iro? 

Ham. Up ^-he river. 

Wix. Better stay eat. 

Ham. No. (Astde.) I must keep her, 
or kill her. JShe knows more than — Well, 
I can't kill anymore. {Starting, 
points) Ha, t-ee t (lure I 

Wix. {Jumping.) No, see nottin. 

Ham. {Recovering.) Where's Rose? 

Wix. {Sulkily.) Went way early. Take 
gun. Want to hunt jack-rabbit— maybe 
wolf. 

Ham, Deinr Rose! 



Wix. (Aside.) Me kill herbycn-by. 

[Ham goes up stage—^turns, 

Ham. {Ahide, raising hand to 
heaven.) Oh, God! if I am good and 
kind to Rose, will you forgive me the 
crime against the mother? [Sfarts, and 
points.] Ha, there! 

Wix. Got um spell 'gam, huh? 

Ham. (Fiercely.) Devil! 

Wix. (Yowling.) Wan't to say, goo- by. 

Ham. Weil, good-by. 

Wix. ( With smile,— zery soft . ) Goo-by ! 
[Ham goes down to river, springs into 
boat and paddles up stream. Wix culls 
tu him,. ] Goo- by ! [Ham paddles off, E.] 
Dear Rose! No say, dear Wix; say, d — m 
Wix. Me love Ham. Hate Rose. Kill 
her bym-by. Jim Okoboji shoot her 
father by wagon. Mother kill, too. 
Ham see her all time. Say, hah! 
[Jumps and points in imitation of 
Ham.] Kah! [Jumps and points.]' B.B.h\ 
[Jumps and points.] Ugh, Ham big, 
big fool! Heap big fool! [Several shots 
off, L.] Plenty shoot! [Looks off, L.) 
Jim. Okoboji — white man — white man 
Bhoot — Jim whip horse— ride fast — 
[Sliots off, L.) Ugh, plenty shot! 
Jim Okoboji, rifle in hands, 
backs on, L. '' 



6 IHK PJEFiRt] TRAIL. 

Jiuj. Course those Vigilantes! [Looks 
off, L.\ Tlieie comes Smudge over the 
divide Willi the ht)rees. Now tbey see 
hira. [Shot off, L.] Secbedo, they've 
hit him! No— he straighteos up in the 
saddle, and down over the bluff he goes 
with the Vigilantes after him. Good 
boy! Good boy! [Taps rifle.] Come, 
(yoyote, let me hear you whine. We'll 
scare the white dogs back to the settle- 
ment. [Fires off, L.J There goes one 
of them out of the saddle. They 
turn— they've got enough— away tbey 
go back to the settlement. [Gives wild 
ivhoop.] I'll teach them to let Jim 
Okoboji alone when he pi.rks up a stray 
horse or two. 

Wix. [Advancing to Jini.\ Hah, 
Lakotah! 

Jim. Why, hello, Wix. 

Wix. Hal-lo Jim! What matter? 

Jim. Vigilantes. 

Wix. Get more hoes? 

Jim. Yes, three more. Last night. 
Vigilantes chase me all morning. 

Wix Kill some? 

Jim, Yes, one. 

Wix. Ugh, washtay! 

Jim. Body up on bluff. 

[Points up to,L. 



Ti[E PIERRE TRAIL. 7 

Wix. While man no stop pick up 
man shot? 

Jim. No. 

Wix. Where dead man's horse? 

Jim. Vigilante caught bridle, when 
white man fall off. 

Wix. Sechedo? 

Jim. Where's Ham Morden? 

Wtx. Gone up river. 

Jim. Good! When go? 

Wix. Him go; you come. 

Jim. When come bacK? 

Wix. Maybe sundown. 

Jim. Ugh, heap good! 

Wix. Where got horses? 

Jim. JSmudge run them down on 
the Cheyenne. Look, see~lPoints to 
L.M.E.] over there on river bottom. 

Wix. Washtay! White man dead, 
think sure? 

Jim. 1 saw him fall out of the saddle. 
They didn't slop to picK him up. I 
guess he's dead. 

Wix. Me go take um scalp. 
[Draw^ long knife from folds of 
dress. Exit, L. 

Jim. Ham Morden drove me away 
from here four years ago. No, he didn't 
drive me,— he wouldn't dare do that-— 
but he made it unpleasant for me- 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 



Unpleasant, just because I made love lo 
Rose. I ought to have taken her iu the 
begining instead of the kid, Smudge. 
Well, I've got the boy, and I'll have the 
girl, too, in spite of Ham Morden. I'll 
make her my wife, as sure as I am a 
scholar. 

Enter Smudge, L. crying. 

Jim. What you sniveling about, 
Smudge? 

Smudge. I'.m shot. 

Jim. They hit you, did Ihey? 

Smudge. Yes — 

Jim. Where? 

SmutJge. In the arm. 

[Shows left arm. 

Jim. {Examining wound.) That's 
nothing! 

Smudge. It makes me eiok. 

Eater Rose R.R.E. Has rifle 
in one hand, jackrabbit in 
other. Jim /ta.s back to her. 

Jim. It makes you sick, hey ! Well, 
I'll make you sick, you papoose. {Raises 
hand to strike Smudge.) Stop your 
yowling! 

Smudge. {Raising arm.) Don't hit 
me, Jim. I saved the horses. {Pointing 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

to L.R.) Th«y are all there. Onh! I 
am so weak! 

[Rose drops jackrahhit. 

Jim. Weak! I'll kick the weakness 
out of you — 

Rose. (Leveling rifle at Jim.) It will 
be your last Kick, Jim Okoboji. 

[Smudge runs to Rose, drops on 
knees, and clings to her skirts. 

Smudtje. Oh, Rose! 

Jim. You, here! 

Rose. Yes, Jim Okobuji, I am 
here — here to rescue this poor boy from 
your savage brutality. 

Jim. (Aside.) I'll throw her off her 
guard. [To Rose.] Rose, you know 
how I love you. 

Rose. And you know, how I despise 
both you and your love. 

Jim. 1 am a scholar. 

Rose. The education the white man 
gave you has only increased yoin- 
capacity to do evil. 

Jim. To convince you that my love is 
sincere, I will warn you of a great dan- 
ger, a danger that even now threatens 
your life as you do mine. (Suddenly.) 
Look, Wix is behind you. She is going 
to stab you. 

[Ro.<ie .'^creams and tunig. Jim 



10 THE PIERHE TRAIL. 



seizes her. They struggle. 
Rose. Liar! False-hearted villain! 
Jim. I got >ou, now. 
Rose. Dog of a half-breed! 
\Jim wrenches rifle from her still 
holding her. 
Smudge. {Staggering towdrds R.) 
Don't kill her, Jim! 

[Falls and faiuts. 
Rose. Vile wretch raleaee me! 

Enter Hans Fledemaus with 
carpet-bag, L. 

Jim. No use, Rose. I've got you 
now, and I'm going to keep you in spite 
of Ham Morden . 

[Rose and Jim struggle. Hans 
drops carpetbag and takes out of 
it tivo large pistols. 
Rose. Help! Help! 
Jim. I tell you, you are mine. 
Hans. {Pointing pistols at Jim.) How 
you know dot? 

[Jim turns, sees Hans. 
Jim. Curse the luck, beat again! 
Hans. Put her down or I plo you oop. 
[Jim releases Rose. She crosses to 
Smudge. 
Jim. {7\o Hans.) Who the d«Til are 
you? 



TlIE PIERRE TRAIL. li 

Hans. Hans Pledermaus. I come 
von der fort dowu. Lay dose rifles by 
der j^rouDt dowo. [Jim lays rifles 
down.] Now hit der trail for Doijtown. 

Jim. {Backing tvwards, L.R. Hans 
with pistols pointed at him.) Robs 
MordeD, you have escaped me this time, 
but I'll have you yet, In spite of Ham 
Morden, in spite of yourself. I go now, 
but I'll return. And, when I do, I'll 
not come alone, but with the whole 
Sioux nation behind me. 

Rose. Let me tell you, Jim Okoboji, 
— and if you love yourself as cowards 
always do, you'll heed my warning;— 
croas not my path again, nor claim this 
boy, or my rifle will do, what it might 
have, done a moment ago. Now leave 
this place and take those stolen horses 
with you. This is no rendezvous for 
thieves and cut-throats. Begone! 

Hans. Don't you hear vot der girl 
toltyou? Git, or I plo your het off, 
of you vas olt Zitting Bulls himself. 

Jim. {Going.) I'll return, when I'm 
not expected. 

Hans. Of you do, dere vill be a goot 
Injin. Sky-doo! 

[Hans fires pistols, Jim ducks, and 
dodges off L.R. E. 



12 THE PJERRE TRAIL. 



Rose. {Kneeling, raises Smudge's 

head in her arms.) Speak to me, 

Smudge! fepeak, dear! He has fainted. 

[She rubs his face. 

Hans. Mein Gott, vol a blaces! [To 

Rose.] Iss der liddle poy deat? 

Rose. No, he has fainted. If we had 
something to revive him — some brandy 
or whisky. 

Hans. Visky! Dot's schnaps. Yah, 
I got him in mine garpet-bag. [Puts 
pistols in carpet bag, arid takes out bot- 
tle of liquor.] Here it is. [Hunds 
bottle to Jttose.] Don't make him drunk. 
He's too young to slant it. 

[Rose moistens Smudge^s lips with 
the liquor. 
Rose. To think they would shoot a 
boy! I must gel Smudge back to the 
Agency, or he is ruined. [Puts bottle to 
Smudge^s lips.) Drink, dear, 
Hans. Der poor hddlepoy! 
Rose. His lips move- 
Hans. Der schuaps iss goot. Dey 
vake him oop. 

Rose. ^Giving Smudge liquor) The 
color is coming back to his cheeks — 
Hans. Yah! Yah! 
Rose. He moves- 
Hans. {Stooping over Smudge ) Yah, 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 13 

I Bee his eye vink. 

Smudge, [Coming to.] Don't hit me, 
Jim ! 

Rose. He speaks. 

Hans. Vot is it? 

Smudge. Don't kill me, Jim. 

Hans. Vot Shim is it? 

Rose. Jim Okoboji, that viliainous 
half-breed from whom yon rescued me. 

Hans. Oh, dot feller! 

Rose. Smudge, dear — 

Smudge. Oh. don't! 

Rose. It is Rose, Smudge. 

Smudge.. Rose! [Opena eyes.] Now 
I can die. 

Hans. Don't do it, doi/s a goot liddle 
poy . 

Smudge. {Staring at Hans.) Who is 
that? Is it, Jim? 

Hans. No, it's me, Hans Plederraaus. 

Smudge. I don't know you. 

Hans. Neft'er mint, mein poy, I be a 
rater lo you of you don't got vone. 

RoBe. Whoever he is. Smudge, he is a 
good, kind man, .mu a friend to the 
helpless in distress. 

Hans. You can take your oat on dot. 
Vhen I get me dot heimstet, dot varm 
picked oud, und mein frau, Katreeaa, 
comes down von der fort, I take you to 



THE PJEKKE TKAIL. 



MieiQ house, una make you tneio owd 
Jiddle poy. How you like dot? 

Smudge. You are a good man, but 
you talk so fuuny. 

Hans. I bin a Dutehman, uod mein 
frau, Katreena, she's a Dutchman too, 
aber she don't vas so funny as I bin. 

Smudge. Rose, have you seen aiy 
dog. Bow-wow? 

Hose. No, Smudge. Have you a dog"? 

Smudge. Yes, Bow-wow. Shunka 
washtay wan! He was with me on the 
bluif, when they shot me. [Whistles.] 
Maybe they shot him, and Bow-wow jb 
dead. [Whistles.] He don't come. 

Rose. He may have gone with Jim 
Okoboji. 

Smudge. That's so. 

Rose. Can you stand up, Smudge? 

Smudge. I'll try. [After an effort 
he stands up.] 1 don't think I'd 'a' 
caved, Rose, if Jim hadn't 'a' grabbed 
you. 

Huns. I'll lix dot Shim, of he tries 
some more foolin aruunt here. 

Rose. Hans, 1 like you. Give me 
your hand. 

Hans. {Shaking her hand.) Yah, ve be 
friente. 

Smudge. {Extending hand.) If Roiee 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 15 

is your friend, Hans, I am your friend. 

Hans. {Shaking Smudge* s hand.) I'll 
be your fater. 

Smudge. I wish Rose was my sister. 
Then I'd have some one to own me. 
Jim says, I have no father, and I know 
old mammy Okoboji isn't my' mother. 

Rose. I'll be a sister to yuu, Smudge, 
for I love you as a brother. 

Hans. Dot's right. She can be your 
sister, I'll be your mutter, und Katreena 
your fater. No, dot's not itl I'll be 
your sister, Katreena your fater— Ach, 
I bin mixed oop in der bet! 

Rose. Here is your liquor, Hans. 

[Gives Hans bottle. 

Hans. Oxcuse me. Miss. [Takes a 
drink.'] Dot settles mein het. [Puta 
bottle in carpet-bag,] Veil, Miss- 
Rose. My name is Rose— Rose Mor- 
den. 

Hans. I call you, Rosy. [Looks off 
L.J You denk dot feller gomea back? 

Rose. The most I fear, Hans, is he 
will not leave, but lurk around here in 
hope to accomplish his evil designs 
against this boy and me. 

Hans. Let him try dot! Of be do, 
Mr. Smart-injin vill go oud by der long 
drail. 



16 THE PJERIIE TRAIT.. 

Kose. I must go in the house, and 
get some bandage for Smudge's arm. 

[Exit into house. Smudge $its down 
on bench, E. 

Hans. I might as veil take it easy 
too. [Takes goose-neck pipe and 
wooden stool out of carpet-bag. Sits 
down on stool, fills pipe, lights it, and 
smokes. Smudge watches him ivith 
amused interest.] How you feels by 
dis time, Smooch? 

Smudge. Better. 
• Hans. [Smokes, then.— l Of you don't 
mordify, you be all right. 

Smudge. Oh, I'll be ail right. 

Hans. [Smokes, then—^] Dit dot feller 
nhoot you. 

Smudge. What feller, Hans? 

Hans. Shim Chokeababy. 

Smudge. No. [Laughs.] You talk 
awful queer. 

Hans. (Suddenly.) Dit you gooait 
zuzenzide? 

Smudge. What's that? 

Hans. Try to kill yourzelf. 

Smudge. No — no. 

Hans. Veil, who dit shoot you? 

Smudge. I don't know. 

Hans. Dot's funny! [Smokes, then— \ 
How.olt vas you? 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 17 

Smudge. I don't know, 

Hans. Dot's funny! [Smoketf,then-^] 
You know vhtjre you vay porn? 

Smudge. No. 

Hans. Dot's f u n ny ! [Sm@ke8, tJienr--] 
You live mit Shim? 

Smudge. When 4 am not at the 
Agency at the Mission school. 

Hans. You know dot, anyv.ty. You 
vai a smart poy. 

Enter Rose from house with 
water and bandage. 

Rob©. Now Smudge, I'll fix your arm. 
[Fixes 8mudge^8 arm. 

Hans. {Smoking and muttering to 
himself.) I don't got somedings to eat 
since morning. I eat everydings oop 
vot I hat all day yesterday. A Dutch- 
man can't live midout eating. 

Rose. Are you hungry, Hans? 

Hans. {Lifting up carpet-bag.) 
Shoost so empty as dot garpet-bag. 
[Drops carpet-bag. It flops to- 
gether. 

Rose. Go into the house and help 
yourself to whatever you find. 

Hans. {Rising.) I'll do dot, nnd der 
feller vot gomes next, gets nix. [Pwfs 



18 THE PJEKHE TRAIL 



stool and pipe into carpet-bag. Takes 
up carpet-bag and starts for hou»e, — 
turns.] You sail votever I tint. 

Rose. Ever} tbiog, Haas. 

Hans. EfferydiDtrs! Dot's petter yet. 
[Exit into house. 

Rgetj. (To Smudge*) Yes, I saw it all. 

Saaudge. I didn't eee you. 

Rose. No; I was io the plum 
thicket oD the other side of the bluff. 
You are a brave fellow, Smudge. 
But to think, you'd steal horses! 

Smudge. 1 cjouldn't help it. Rose. 1 
bad to do what Jim told me. He'd kill 
me, if I didn't. {Sniveling, wipes nose 
on coat-sleeve.] I don't want to go 
borae stealing. 

Rose. Do you know what the Vigi- 
lantes would have done with you, if 
they had caught you? 

Smudg©. {With hesitancy.) Yes. 

Rose. Hung you. 

Smudge. {Falling on his knees.) Rose, 
dear Rose, I promise you on my knees, 
and God hears me, I'll never do anything 
wrong again. {Rising to feet.) No, not if 
I die for it; not if Jim kills me. 

Rose. {Embracing him.) My own boy! 

Smudge. Jim stole me away from the 
agency this time. You wont let him 



TKE PIEKKE iUAIL. 19 

steal me ftgHin? 

Rose. No, no! You were brought to 
the Agency through my efforts. I told 
the agent and the good lady of the 
Mission about you. With her help, I 
persuaded the agent to eeod after you, 
and briag you in. You were a perfect 
little savage then, and would dance and 
whoop, and talk Sioux and broken 
English all in one breath. But you 
took kindly \o what was taught you, 
and your Bchooiing at the agency 
changed you in a few years, yes, more 
than my schooling did me in the eame 
time. My father retained the manners 
of civilization, and had taught me 
much before J went to the Mission. 

Smudge. Do you believe Ham Mor- 
den is your real father? 

Rose. Of course, I do. 

Smudge. Wix isn't your mother. 
You're no Indian—no half-breed. 
- Rose. My father brought me with 
him when he came here. 

Smudge. Where is your mother? 

Hose. Father said she died back in 
the states. 

Smudge. Jim Okoboji says. Ham 
Morden used to get drunk, and do 
deviltry just like the Indians. 



20 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Rose. That ie a half-breed lie. 

Smudge, I'm no Indien. I'd like to 
know where I came from. I coulden't, 
have just come up out of the ground 
like one of mammy Okoboji's turnips. 

Rose. There is a great mystery about 
your origen. Some day we'll solve it, 
and tind out who you are. 

Smudge. Jim must know, for he's a 
scholar. 

Rose. Yes, Jim's a scholar. The 
kind the goverment makes over at the 
Indian schools in the states, and calls 
civilizeti Yes, Jim may know all about 
you, but will Jim tell? 

Smudge. Jim is a bad man. If he 
heard me say that, he'd kill me, but I'll 
tell the truth if I die for it, 

{Rose takes gold cross off of neck. 

Rose. Here is a golden cross, the 
good bishop gave me when h« visited 
the Agency. Wear this, {PuU cross on 
Smudgea neck.] and whenever yon are 
tempted to do wrong, look at it and 
think of poor Rose, and do right. 

Smudge. [Grasmng her hand.] Yes, 
yes, if I'm killed for it. 

Enter Hans from house with 
carpet-bag. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 21 

Hans. [Aside.) I ate me a whole 
ahaokrabbit. 

Rose. Did >oii find enough to eat. 
Hana? 

Hans. Yah, blenty, bleoty. Dere is 
some left — (Aside.) for kitty. 

Snte7- Wix, L. dragging dead 
dog by hind legs. It is a small 
black and white shepherd. She 
does not immediately see Hans, 
Hose and Smudge. They are, R. 

Wix. No find white man. G«t dog- 
gy. Make nice stew. 

Hans. {Sees Wix— snatches pistols 

from carpet-bag.) Indians! Indians! 

[Aims pistols at Wix. 

Wix. (Dodging.) No shoote, no shoote! 
Me Lahkotah — white man squaw. Rosy, 
Rosy, no let una ehoote. 

Rose. Don't shoot, Hans, That is 
my father'*? iquaw. 

Hans. Is dot so! (Lowering pistols.) 
Den I vait 'dil your fater comes, und 
shoot him. 

Smudge. That's my dog. Bowwow. 
And he's dead! 

Wix. Nice doggy. Cook um. Make 
good etew. 

Smudge. Don't let her oook Bowwow. 



2-2 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Hans. {To Wix, pointing pistols at 
her.) Drop dot dog, or I drop you. 
Wix. Ugh! Ugh! 
[Drops dog, and sidles across stage 
to hovse. 
Rose. {To Wix.) Father forbid any 
of your savage cookery in the house. 
If h© hears of this, he will drive you 
back to your tribe. 
Wix. Secheedo! 

[Exit into house. 
Smudge. {Crossing to dog.) Poor 
Bowwow! 

[Takes dog up in arms, and exits, 

R. with him. Blubbers. 

Hans. {Aside.) Dot squaw vas going 

to cook Bowwow. [Mmkes a sick face.'] 

Maype dot don't vae a shack rabbit vot 

I ate me so quick down. 

[Gags, with gulping sound, several 
times. Rose picks up rifles. 
Rose. Poor Snaudge— his heart ie 
broken. 

[Sets rifles against house. 
Hans. Dit dot Indianer voman 
kill dot dog? 

Rose. No, I think the Vigilantes 
shot him. Didn't you see them? 

Hans. I saw noddings vot shot dot 
dog. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 23 



Enter Smudge, R. Throws him- 
self down on bench. Buries 
head in arms. 
Ro9e. You came down the trail, 
didn't you? 

Hans. Yab, by der bluflf. 
Ro8e. Did you see some men on 
horseback, up on the biutf, ndinij 
away? 

Hans. I saw sooaedings moving. I 
dought it might be Indians. 

Enter Mahzaliskah on horse- 
back, L.R.E. Dashss across rear 
of stage and off R.R.E. 

Rose. {Turns — sees Mahzahskah.) 
Mahzahskah! 

Hans. {Turning, with a jump.) Vot's 
dot! 

Enter Mahzahskah on foot, R. 
R.E. Comes down center of 
stage . 

Rose. It is Mahzakiskab. 

Haos. Indians! Indians! 

Mahzahskah. {Advancing towards 
Rose.) Wahzhinzhinkah! 

Hans. {Pointing pistols at Mahzah- 
skah.) Stant, or I ehoot you det in vone 
second. 



24 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

[Rose rushes to Mahzdhskah. 

Rose. {Grasping his hand.) Mahza'V 
skah, Mahzahskuh, I am so glad vol ^ 
have come! 

HaDS. {Lowering pistols, aside) Aa- 
Dodder vone of der family. 

[Smudge advances to Rose and 
Mahzahskah. 

Mahzahskah. (To > Rose.) Zitkahdan 
skah wash lay, how! {Shaking her 
hand.) How!^ How! 

Smudge. {Extending hand to Mah- 
zahskah.) How, Mahzahskah, JLahkotah 
washtay! 

Mahzahskah. {Shaking Smudge^ s 
hand,) How, hokshinnah ciBtinnab! 
How! How! {To Rose, pointing to 
Hans.) De taku hay? 

Rose. Wiheashtah washtay. 

Mahzahskah. Hah. 

Haas. {To Mahzahskah.) Kcennen sie 
Deutsch ■prechen? [Mahzahskah looks 
at Rose, then shakes head negatively.] 
Nein? 

Rose. This is Mahzahskah, Hams, a 
friendly Indian. 

Hans. Is dot so! Veil, I go id und 
aae vol your mutter is cooking. 

Rose. That squaw is not my molher. 

Hans. Den vhere iss your mutter? 



Ti{E PIERRE TRAIL. 25 

Rose. My mother is dead. 

Hans. Dot's too bad. Veil, I see 
anyvay, rot dot squaw is cooking. [Goes 
towards house. Aside, making a sick 
face.] She vas going to cook Bowwow. 
Goo — 00 ! 

[Exit into house. 

Mahzahekah. When come back from 
Agency? 

Rose. A week ago. 
[Smudge retires to bench and lies 
down on it. 

Mahzahskah. Major Dan hear um, 
no blieve um. Sen me to see. 

Rose. Well, you see I am here, 
whether Mr. Dan Corbin believes it or 
not. I am glad to see you, Maz, but I 
think Dan might have come himself. 

Mahzahsknh. No can come right away. 
Sioux heart bad. Want to fiight. Gov' 
nor sen Major Dan paper, say: Watch 
Indian. All cowboy com© down to 
Major Dan. Plenty gun, plenty powder- 
Rose. Jim Okoboji was here. 

Mahzahskah. Jim Okoboji! Ugh, 
bad man! Seoheedo! 

Rose. He has been stealing horses. 

Mahzahskah. Steal horse all time. 

Rose. I fear he is lurking around 
here now. {Suddenlg grasps Mahzah- 



26 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

skah'fi arm, and speaks iwhemently.) 
Mahzahskah, this place is full of 
iiiyster}', and perhaps murder -but my 
father is good. 

Mahzahskah. Him squaw-raan. 
Rose. Those words burn, Mahzah- 
skah. My mind is made up. I shall 
leave this place forever. {Takes ring 
from finger.) Here, take this ring, and 
give it to Dan. {Gives Mahzahskah 
ring.) He gave it to me the last time he 
was at the Agency. Teli him to come 
to me at once, or keep the ring until he 
finds another to wear il, 

Mahzahskah. Major Dan love Rose- 
Rose. Tell him the half-breed is here. 
Mahzahskah. Rose 'fraid, me stay. 
Rose. No, Mahzahskah, but do as I 
bid you. If you ride at your best speed, 
you will reach the trading post and 
return with Dan before sunrise. Go, 
friend of the white man, my life and 
happiness may depend upon your haste. 
Mahzahskah. No slop. Go fast. No 
see tree. Goo- by ! 

Rose. Good-by, Mahzahskah, and 
may the spirit of the great Wahkan go 
with you. 

Mahzahskah. Ugh, got good horse. 
Shunkahkah washtay. 



THE FIEKRE TKAIL. 



[Runs to R.R.E. and exits. Iinmedi- 
ately reenters on horseback, dashes 
across rear stage, and waves hand 
to Rose. She waves hand to him. 
He exits L.R.E. 

Enter Hans from house fol- 
lowed by Wix. Hans has 
pistols, one in each trouser''s 
pocket, handle sticking out. 
Has frijing pan in hand. In it 
are several half-cooked pieces 
of jack-rabbit. 

Wix. {Grabbing at frying pan.) Eat 
all up! Wanneechee! Wanneechee! 

Hans. Veil, of you got der itchee, 
Bcratchee, scratehee. 

[Wix snatches frying pan from 
Hans. 
Wix. Uifh, secheedo! 

[Dodges into house. 
Rose. {Advancing to Hans.) Fliet! 
Hans, there ib a dead white man up on 
that bluff. 

[Points up and to L . 
HanB. Is dot so! 

Rose. The man was shot by Jim 
Okoboji. I want to get the body away 
from the wolves to-night. I wish you 
would go up and bury him. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 



fjans. I do dot, Koey — you bet I do 
dot. 

R®se. I'll get you the pick and spade. 
[Goes to rear of house and gets pick 
and spade. 

Hans. I take meia pipe mit me. 

[Takes pipe out of carpet-bug. 

Rose. Here they are, Hans, 

Hans. Yi-yah! [Puts pipe in coat 
pocket, takes pick and spade from R&se, 
and picks up carpet-hag.] Aber here— 
here is mem garpet-bag. Take it, und 
don't lose it undil I gome back. 
"Rose. {Taking carpet-hag.) I'll keep 
it safe. 

Hans. Dank you, Rosy, dank you. 
I Takes out pipe and lights it. Puts 
pick and spade on shoulder. Smokes — 
QQing.] Now, I bin a funeral. 

[Exit, L 

Rose. Mans is a good man. I must 
get Smudge away from here,— out of 
the power of that half-breed. If Hani 
will take nim, he will be safe. Hans 
will care for him, and protect him. (Puts 
earpet-hag down, E.) I have determined 
ta leave this place. But why should I! 
My father loves me, is kind to me, and 
will protect me. I should have remained 
at the Agency but for Jim Okoboji He 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 29 

insulted me, at every turn, with his 
attentions. In vain, I besouorht the 
agent to ^ relieve me of this persecution. 
He seemed entirely under the influence 
of the half-breed. I left the Agency in 
despair, and returned to my father. 
But even here he dares to obtrut?e his 
hateful presence. iVIy rifle simll befriend 
me. Oh, Dan have you forgotten me! 
Enter Hans, L. with pick and 
.spade. 

Hans. He don't vas dere. 

Rose, Not there! 

Hans. No, not even der place vhore 
he iait. 

Rose. More mystery. 

[Takes pick and spade and places 
them rear of house. 

Hans. Veil, Miss Rosy, of you oxcuse 
iiie, I go und look me some farms oud. 

Rose. You better not go, Hans. T 
fear for your safety. I am fill-ni with a 
sense of mistrust. You better stay. 

Hans- Do you denk I'm afrait, vhen 
I got dese can-nones? 

[Draws pistols from pockets. 

Rose. {Weirdly, clutching his arm..) 
Man, I tell you there is danirer— danger 
which like the wolf is slowly creeping 
from itu lair. 



30 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 



Hans. You scare me to del! 

Rose. (Pleadingly.) Don't go, Hans. 

Hans. Rosy, you don't know me. 1 
looks me like a fool oufcsite, bnt insite, 
I bin shoost so cunning as der fox, und 
shooet Go pizen as der raddleschnake. 

Rose. I believe you are a brave* 
stirewd man, but I— 

Hans. I vas in der Chermao army 
for seven years. Und I vights like 
der tevii. 

[F'o'urishes pistols. 

Rose. Yes, Hans — but don't go. Some 
lurking foe might shoot you. 

Hans. Den I shoot too. 

Rose. I fear the Sioux are stirring. 
And we need you— yes. need you, 

Hans. Veil, veil. Rosy, you vas a 
goot girl. Und kint, sho(J6t like rnein 
Katreena. Don't make yourzelf any 
vorry. 1 be back before die sun falls 
down, goot und hoongry, und all retty 
for annodor shack-rabbit. (Aside.) May. 
be dot don't vas a shaok-rabbit vot I — 
(Gags.) Goo-ooo! (To hose.) I dells 
you vone dings, Miss Rosy, of dot Shim 
Ohokeababy - 

Rose. Okoboji, Hans. 

Hans. Yah! Yah! Pokochoby.. Of 
he ooraes 'rount here, vhil^ I am gone, 



TilE PIERRE TRAIL. 31 

I gitf him der grant rahzoo by der bone- 
yard oud, 60 soon as I come pack. 

[Exit, R.R.E. Smudge is asleep on 
bench. ^R. Rose crosses to bench. 
Rose. Poor tired boy. sleep on. 
Fatherless, motherless, beateo, mis- 
guided, and wounded, but not forsaken. 
[Tiu'iis and gazes towards river.] The 
day closet-, and the Cheyenne flows 
placidly on with the passing hours. 
[SunBet glow.] Oh, river, I would you 
could speak, and tell me the wild stories 
of the past — the savage wars, the deeds 
of tomahawk and knife, the midnight 
surprise, the torture and the dance, and 
k\\ the joys and sorrows of the simple 
people, who for ages have dwelt along 
thy shores. [Drops doimi into rustic 
chair.] I have a strange forboding of 
evil to day. Can it be, my father is in 
league with horse thieves! His gloomy 
muttenngs, his starts and tits of frenzy^ 
and the weird hag with whom he com- 
panions, all awake in me a dreadful 
suspicion, I strive in vain to drive away. 
And when I ask him of my mother, he 
starts as thought a serpent stung him. 
Can she have wionged him! No, no, for 
she would love as I would love, with all 
her heart, all her soul. {Clasping her 



32 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

hands.) Mother! .Mother! Oh, when 
I speak that word, dim memories creep 
upon rae which I cannot connect— other 
faces which I seem to know, and yet 
know not. I may have dreamt these 
things, but it is strange, very strange, a 
dream should so impress rne, {Grows 
drowsy.) Mother -dear mother. {Sinks 
back in chair ) Mother -mother — 

[Sleeps. 

Enter Wix from house, stealthily. 

Wix. Rosy sleep. Ham gone. Good 
time kill her. [Draws knife] Tell Ham, 
Jim kill her. Mam love Wix more, 
no got datter. Rosy no Ham's dattei% 
anyway. Kill her this time sure. Knife 
Bhnvp—lSte.ils slowly vp to Rose. Just 
as she is about to stab her, shot off L,R. 
Rose springs to feet. Smudge sits tip on 
bench. Wix steps back, dropping hand 
ivith knife behind her concealing 
knife. Smiles blandly.] Rosy sleep, 
hear shot, wake up. 

Rose. {Commavdingly, and pointing 
to house.) Go into the house. 

Wix {Cringing, picks up jack 
rabbit dropped by Rose. Still holds 
knife behind her.) Nice rabbit. Mal^e 
supper, tend house —tepea washtay. 



TilE PIERRE TRAIL. 33 

IBacks into house. 

Smudge. {Rubbing eyes.) Rose, I 
heard a shot. 

Rose. Yes, off there. 

[Point a to L. 

Smudge. {Springing to feet.) Are 
you hurt? 

Rose. No. 

{Shot off L. 

Smudi^'e. Another shot. 

Rose. More murder! {Looks off L.) 
See, a man rides madly down the 
bluff— DOW he turns in the saddle — 
[Shot off L.] he fires back as though 
pursued. He approaches— he is here. 

Mark Newell backs on L. 
rifle in hands, 

Mark. {Turning.) Thank God, a 
house at last! 

Rose. Who are you? 

Mark. Mark Newell. 

Rot^e. Are you hurt, sir? 

Mark. No, but by the number o 
shots fired at me by some concealed 
foe -{Notices loose's face,) My God, that 
face! Girl, who are you? 

Rose. Rose Morden. 

Mark. And this place? 

Mark. Ham Morden's ranch. 



34 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Mark At last, at last! 

Rose. I pray you leave this place, 
before further harm befall you. Ride 
to the north west, and tarry not until 
you reach the fort. 

Mark. Girl, danger and I are too 
well acquainted for me to act the 
coward now. I urn in search of my 
children. I lost them fourteen years 
ago. I was coming to those hills whose 
dark peaks, you may see rising to the 
heavens, from yonder bluff. 

[Points to L, 

Rose. The Black Hills. 

Mark. Yes, the Black Hills. Excited 
by soma rumors of their great mineral 
wealth, I rushed on witbout considering 
the danger— the peril of such unpro- 
tected haste. 

Rose. {Aside.) That voice! 

Mark. Three days out from fort 
Pierre, at midnight, I was attack by 
H half breed ruffian, a white man, and a 
squaw; my horses and cattle run off; my 
wife murdered, and as I then supposed, 
my children too. Wounded and bleeding, 
I crept under the wagon to die. An 
Indian boy passing by in the morning 
found me in a weak and helpless state. 
Moved by some good spirit, he 



Tl£E PIERHE TRAIL. 35 

brought me food and water, and when 
I recovered so I could move, he 
guided and assisted me back t© Pierre. 
God bless that Indian boy! 

Rose. What became of the boy? 

Mark. We parted at th*^ fort. Before 
he left, I gave him twenty five dollars, 
all in silver quarters. With this, he was 
delighted. I also gave him my pocket 
piece. It was a brass Chinese coin with 
a square hole in the center. 

Rose. {Aside.) Mahzahskah wears 
such a coin upon his neck. 

Mark. (Taking letter from pocket.) 
Look girl, I hold in my hand a letter 
from one Daniel Corbin of these parts- 
Rose. From Dan Corbin! 

Mark. Yes,— a young man I have 
known from childhood. Here is the 
letter — read. 

[Ease takes letter. 

Rose. Dan writes: (Reads.) Informed 
by Mahzahskah, friendly Indian— from, 
other Indians — other sources — traced 
from point to point — 

Mark. I find in that communication 
that which, not alone encourages me, 
but convinces m», my children etill live. 
Read en. 

Rose. (Reads.) Certain Indian camped 



36 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

on creek below hearing shot ran up to 
where y@u were camped —saw squaw 
standing near fire with white baby — 
fire smoJcing — half-breed looking at 
fire aaid smudge — aquaw smiled, held 
up baby and named it. Smudge. 

[Rose stares at letter. Smudge with 
wonder and amaze uunt advances 
towai'ds her. 

Mark. Read on, read on. 

Rose. {^Reads.) Ham Morden, a white 
man ; Jim Okoboji, a young half breed, 
and a fierce squaw named, Wix—{To 
Mark.) Oh, sir! I can^read no more. 

[Extends letter to Mark. 

Mark. {Taking letter.) I know it, 
girl; the truth is too apparent. 

Rose. What was your daughter's 
name? 

Mark. Rose. My wife screamed it, 
when the half-breed shot me down. 
Then I fainted from shock and loss of 
blood. When I came to, all was 
dark and still. 'Twas then I crept 
under the wagon to die. 

Rose. Did you iind any trace of your 
little daughier and the baby, in the 
morning? 

Mark. No. The white man took my 
daughter: the equaw, my baby boy. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 37 

Rose. Did the squaw keep the baby? 

Mark. No, she afterwards gave the 
baby to an old squaw, the mother of 
the balf-breed. 

Rone. How do you know all this? 

Mark. {Tapping letter.) It is all in 
this letter, and more--much more. And 
girl, until Romoone can prove by 
evidence as indisputable as the water 
running in yonder river, that you are 
not my child, I'll ciaira you as my 
danghter. 

Rose. Oh. pir! there is a name, 
and memory links it with a face — a 
gentle, loving face. The name is Ruth. 

Mark. That was your mother's name. 
[Takes picture, from pocket.^ 8ee, here 
is her face. 

[R&se seizes picture. Smudge eomes 
close to her side. Both gaze intently 
at picture. 

Rose. This is the face. It is— it is 
my moiher. 

Mark. {Throwing arms about her.) 
My daughter! My daughter! {Noticing 
Smudge.) What boy is that? 

Rose. That is Smudge. 

Mark. {Throwing his arms about 
Smudge.) My baby, Mark -my son! 

Smudge. Someone owns me at last. 



38 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

and Rose is my sister, 

\They sob and cry with arms about 
one another. 

Ham Morden, in boat, paddles 
on from H. down river to rear 
center. Jumps out of boat and 
fastens it to shore. Advances 
with paddle in hand. 

Rose. Oh! sir, if I am your daughter, 
who— who then is Ham Morden? 

Mark. Your mother's murderer. 

[Ham drops paddle. 

Ham. {Looking up.) May God have 
mercy upon bis soul! [Rose, Mark, and 
Smudge turn and stare at Ham. Then 
they part, giving full view of Ham, C. 
Rose, and Smudge to R. Mark te L.] 
Why do you stare? I am Ham Morden. 

Mark. And I am Mark Newell, the 
father of these stolen children — the 
husband of the woman you murdered. 
It was on that night- 
Ham. {Staring abstractedly into 
space.) Yes— yes — it was on thai night. 

Mark. {Raising rifle.) Ham Morden, 
guilty, or not guilty? 

Ham. {Loudly.) Guilty. 

Mark. Then, life for life. 
[Levels ri fie at Ham. Rose 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 39 

rushes between Mark and Ham. 
Rose. (Wildly.) Oh, Ham— father. 
Ham, recall that awful word. It cannot, 
cannot be! 

Ham. But it is, child, it is. (Holds 
up hands.) These hands are red with 
your mother's blood. 

[Rose shrinks from Ham. 

Mark. Back, daughter, back. The 

heartless, villainous, wretch must die. 

[Rose turns, seizes barrel of Mark^s 

extended rifle, and presses it down. 

Rose. If Ham Morden is guilty, he 

must die. But not with such eager, 

relentless haste, tie must have time to 

repent — time to pray, 

[Tableau. 

DROP-CURTAIN. 



40 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 



ACT II. 

SCENE. Same as in act first- 
Time, evening. Large, round, yellow 
harvest moon. 

Discovered : Ham Morden, R. 
seated on bench with legs bound 
and arms tied behind him. 
Mark Newell with rifle. C. 
Rose, L.C. 

Mark. Ham Morden, at midnight, I 
will execute upon you, the seotence of 
your crime. Your kindness to my 
dautihter through the Jong years of 
our separation; your severe repentance; 
your yielding to justice and acknowl- 
edgment of guilt, together with the 
fatherly care so long extended to the 
child whose mother you " murdered, 
IHam groans.] may be of advantage to 
you, when you stand before the great 
judgment aeal of Him whose law, you 
have violated. I leave you for the 
present to God and your conscience. 

[Exit into house. 



TUE PIP^RE TRAIL. 41 

Ham. Rose. 

Rose. 8ir? 

Ham. Come am] kneel by me here. 

Keye. (Sorrowfully.) I want to for<?ive 
you Ham, but I can't. 

Ham. {Pitifully.) Won't you come? 

Rose. (After a struggle.) W^ll, what 
is it? 

[Kneel}} at hiskrtees. 

Ham. Rose, I am a man, naturally, 
of good impulses, but subject to spells 
of raorbid gloom. I have at times sought 
relief in drink. 

Rose. I pity you. 

Ham. -Thank you, child, I need your 
pity. The half breed knew my faiUng^ 
and prepared me for the act. I tired in 
the darj^, but when I saw what I had 
done, it sobered roe with the sight. 

Rqse. (Rising.) Cruel, cruel, man! 

Ham. Two words she uttered ae .^he 
fell-- 

Rose. What were they, Ham, what 
were they? 

Ham. My babe! 

Rose. (Sobbing.) Poor mother! 

Elam. Just as I stood, dumb and 
staring in the flickering light of the 
camp tire, Wix approached me with you 
in her arms. I snafched you from her, 



42 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

and commanding her to bring the babet 
I rushed through the darkness to my 
tepee. There, I cried over you the 
live-long night. 

Ko8«. Did you not receive a share of 
the horses and cattle? 

Ham. No. No. Not a hoof. The 
half-breed took them all, and he was 
welcome to them . 

Rose. Ham, how came you here, and 
in such evil corapany? 

EEam. My life has been a life of evil 
influences. Born in the South mt 
wealthy parents; a passionate, imperious, 
extravigant mother, and a yielding 
father; pampered with every vice; I 
started wrong, and have been wrong 
ever since- But to shoot an jnnocent, 
loving woman with her babs in her 
arms— I— I-^- 

[Bursts into tears. Breaks complete- 
ly down. 

Rose. {Kneeling at his knees.) Oh» 
Ham, why did you do it, why did you do 
It! 

Ham. (Vehemently.) Why? Because 
Satan only triumphs when he steals the 
heart that is truly good. I've fought 
the devil, and fought him hard 
but he downed me in the end — he 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 43 

downed me in the end. 

Rose. Too bad, Ham, too bad! 

Ham, And now, when I could do 
good, perhaps save you all froaa 
destruction, I must die. 

Rose. Oh! Oh! 

Ham. When by my interc^seion, I 
might hold back the angry Sioux from 
the violence he meditaies against the 
settler; when, if free, I might this hour 
save your father's life, and you from the 
arras of that hated half-breed, I must 
die. 

Rose. {Springing to her feet,) It 
must not be. 

Ham. {Rising to feet.) Give me but 
a chance, and of your own free will — for 
I am your prisoner, bound or unbound — 
give me but a chance, I say, and I'll save 
three lives where I took one, and make 
my record square above, while with 
my life, I balance up below. 

Rose. Is there such danger? 

Ham. Why, girl, ; there are indiane 
lurking in every bush, in every grove 
along the river. 

Rose. {Walking stage.) What shall I 
do! What shall I do! Mother, motheri 
Ob, Ham, how could you commit suoh 
an awful crime! 



4i THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

[Shot off, R.R.E. 

Ham. A Bignall 

Rose. Father in danger -Smudge in 
danger — night and darkness -that evil 
hearted half-breed — surrounded by foes, 
and — Oh, if Dan would only come! 
Something must be done! 

[Several wild yells and ivhoopg off. 
R.h'.E. 

Ham. The Indians are gatheri,Dg for 
the war-dance. Come, Rose, unbind 
m». Why do you hesitate? 

Rose. Wiiat shall I do! 
[Beating of Indian drum off R.R.E^ 

Ham. The ladtan drum! [Indian 
war chant with drvm off R.R.E.\ 
Quick, gir), r**lease me, or all is lost. 

Rose. I trust you, Ham. 

[Releases him. 

Ham. Thank God! 

Rose. Now, what wili you do to save 
us? 

Ham. Go down among the Sioux. 

Rose. They will kill you. 

Ham. Kill me, no. I am kohlah 
akah wan, and when Kohlaskah speaks^ 
the Sioux will bear his words. Give 
me your knife and revolver. Your 
father took mine. 

[Rose gives him knife and revolver^ 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 45 

Long Indian whoop at distance off, 
R.R.E. 
Rose. Don't go, Ham. I set you free, 
that you might help us here. 

[Indian drum and chant off, R.R.E. 
Ham. Kohlaekah will speak, and the 
council will hear his words. 

[Shouts at distance of ^'OkobojiV^off, 
R.R.E. 
Rose. Hark ! 

Ham, {Flourishing knife.) Jim Oko- 
boji must die. 

[Dashes off, R.R.E. hose gazes 
after him. 
Rose. Father may chide for this- 
But Ham will return. And then— I 
shudder to think of it! Ham was my 
father. He loved and cared for me as 
the best of fathers. So tender, ever 
gentle, all for me. Why should my 
father shoot him. He is not an oflBcer 
of th9 law. If he does as he declares he 
will, he will be guilty of murder, too. 
The law may demand of him his right 
for Ham's destruction. Father will 
answAr, he killed my wife. And then, 
the Law cries out: The proof? His own 
confession. Who witnessed this confes- 
sion? My children. Uncertain evidence. 
A child will swear to anything to save 



46 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

a parents lif^. My fathe." is rash — rash 
as ID his previous act, placing my poor 
mother and her helpless babes, without 
the least precaution, in such deadly 
danger. And yet, if Ham is guilty, he 
must die. But justly, and by the law, 
not by my father's hand. Ham was 
drunk. He did not know— he may be 
mistaken. It ly not Ham's nature to 
mwrder a helpless woman, no, not m his 
sober senses. [Goes to house. Sees knife 
and revolver near door.] Why, here is 
Ham's knife and revolver. [Picks them 
up.] Father must have laid them here, 
when he took them from Ham. 

[Puts thcniin belt.^ 

Enter Mark Newell from house 
iviih rifle. 

[Rose retires to C\ 

Mark. Where is Morden? 

Rose. [Evasively.) He is not here, 

Mark. How did he release himself? 

Rose. He did not release himself. 

Mark, He was bound— Who set him 
free? 

Rose. I did. 

Mark. Daughter, would you assist 
the murderer of your mother to escape 
from justice? 



THE PIBREIE TRAIL. 47 

Rose. No, not from justice, but from 
injustice. 

Mark. What do you mean? 

Rose. That you have no ri<?ht !o 
sboot Ham Moi'den. 

Mark. No righc to kill the man, who 
killed my wife! 

Rose. You are not an officer of the 
law. 

Mark. Girl, you trifle with me, and 
almost turn me 'tjainst you. 

Rose. Liisten. You are my father, 
but to me a stranger. Ham was my 
father. This I did believe. And, as a 
father, from my childhood up, watched 
over ma-, projected me, and loved me 
with a love so tender, so seiC-sacrificinj^ 
to my comfort and to every want of 
mine, that, were he guilty of a thousand 
crimes, he should have justice, if by any 
power or act of mine, it might be gotten 
for him, 

Mark. {Bitterly.) Better, perhaps, had 
I left you to your fate. 

Rose. Did you see Ham shoot mother? 

Mark. Shoot her! He didn't shoot 
her. The cowardly villain stabbed her 
in the back. 

Rose. How do know mother was 
fitabbed, and not shot? 



48 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Mark. I examined the body. 

Rose. Did you see Ham slab her? 

Mark. No, I was on the other side 
©f the wagon. 

Rose. Then, how do you know he 
stabbed her? 

Mark. Jim Okoboji says so. 

Rose. Jim Okoboji! 

Mark. Yes, it is in this letter. {Takes 
letter from pocket.) Okoboji confessed 
all to Corbin, but under the pledge he 
wouldn't use it against him with the 
government. 

Rose. Jim Okoboji was ever a black 
hearted liar. 

Mark. Morden has Qonfessed. 

Rose. Ham says he shot mother. He 
never said he stabbed her. Ham may be 
mistaken. Jim Okoboji may be lying. 
You may be in need of calmness and 
judgment. 

Mark. {With deep borrow.) Rose, 
near the Pierre trail, there is a grave 
matile by me when hardly able to lift my 
aching head. With my knife I hacked 
the dry earth, and with my hands I 
threw out the dirt. Staggering with 
weakness, I gathered the stones I piled 
upon it, the only cnounument that 
marks that lonely spot — your mother's 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 49 

grave. {Going.) I leave you to your 
thoughts. . 

[Exit, with bowed head, slowly into 
house . 
Rose. {Falling 9n her knees.) Dear 
mother, if in this dark hour of trial, 
thou dost look down upon thy child, let 
thy loving spirit decend upon me, and 
tell me what to do. Or, if as a gentle 
angel thou dost wander through the 
silence of the night whispering good 
counsel to the innocent — 

Enter Jim Okoboji, R. R. E. 
Steals up to Rose, and seizing 
her, places hand over her 
mouth. 

Jim. Silence, or I'll take your life! 

[Rose struggles.] No, trifling, now. 

[Drags her up stage. 

Enter two Indians, R. R. E. 
They seize upon Rose, and ivith 
Jim, drag her towards R. R. E. 
. Enter Smudge from house. He 
sees Jim and Indians with 
Rose. 

Smudge. Don't kill her, Jim! 

[Exeunt Jim and Indians with 
Rose. Smudge jumps, .stamps, and 



5U THE PJERRE TRAIL. 

hollers. 
Smudge. Father! Father!- 

Enter Mark Newell hastily 
from house. Has rifle. 

Mark. What's the matter, boy? 

Smudge. (Pointing to E.R.E.) Rose! 
Rose ! 

Mark. What of her? 

Smudge. Jim and the Indians have 
carried her off. 

Mark. I comprehend it all. It is 
that villain, Morden. The dissembler 
has deceived me. — Threw me off my 
guard with his false submission and 
repentance, until he could steal away 
my daughter. But I'll have his life, 
yet. 

Smudge. It wasn't Ham, father. It 
was Jim and the Indians. 

Mark. All the same, my boy. All 
Morden's gang, and ever ready to do hi8 
bidding. Back Mark, some one 
approaches. 

[The^ crouch near left wing. 

Enter Wix, R. followed by Hans 
with pistols pointed at her. 

Hans. V-alk oop, valk oop! 
Wix. Waneechee! 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 51 



Mark. {Leveling rifle at Wix and 
Hans.) Stand, or I fire! 

Hans. {Thrusting pistols over squaw's 

shoulders.) Of you doo, I shoot too. 

Smudge. Don't, father! It is Hans. 

[Mark lowers rifle. 

Hans. {To Wix.) Now, olt laty, you go 

into der house, and cook me some 

shack-rabbit,. 

{Mark crosses to Wix. 
Wix. {^taring at Mark.) No ded! 
White man spirit. {Gives scared 
whoop.) Wahkahn! 

[Rushes into house. 
Hans. She's dickled to denk how I'll 
eat her shack-rabbit. 

Smudge. Hans, this is my father. 
Hans. Is dot so! 

Mark. We are in danger, here, sir. 
You will help us fight the foe? 
Hans. I tights like der tevil. 
Mark, Who is that squaw? 
Hans. Vix. 
Mark. Vix! 
Smudge. Wix, father, Wix. 

[Mark rushes into house followed by 

Smudge. 

Hans. {Gazing after them.) Dot olt 

feller, he vants some shack-rabbit, too. 

Veil, 1 fount me a goot farm down by 



52 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

der river on, mit goot laat, dwo springs, 
und a voots. To-morrow t build me 
a dungoud, und denn I send for 
Katreena. Aber dere iss nopotty to 
send. I go meinself. 

Enter Mark from house fol- 
lowed by Smudge, 

Mark. She has escaped. 
Hans, Who escaped? 
Smudge. Wix. 

[Hans makes a comical run for the 
house. Exit into house. 
Mark. We certainly searched every 
corner of the house. 

Smudge- She may hav« escaped by 
the window. 

Mark. {Tapping rifle.) She'll not 
escape this, next time. Hark! I hear 
footsteps. It may be another villain 
after you. Come. 

[They cross to L. and crouch near 
wing. 

Enter Ham Morden, R.R.E. 
Advances to R. O. Appears 
dejected and discouraged. 

Ham. If I had th« girl and the b©y 
away from here, we might fight it out, 
for fight they will. I have barely 



THE PIERRE TRAIL.. 53 

escaped with my life. 

Mark. {Advancirig and leveling rifle 
at Ham.) False hearted and dissembling 
villain — 

Ham. 1 am here. 

Mark. And I am here- here, Ham 
Morden, to close accounts with you. 
Your mock repentance moved me to 
spare your life until midnight. But I 
have changed the time — changed it to 
now. 

Ham. {Taking position.) I am ready. 

Mark. I'll give you time to pray, if 
your brutal heart has any prayer left 
in it. 

Ham. Mark, Mark, why are you so 
bitter! I have not deceived you. I 
have returned. I — 

Mark. Pray, man, pray. 

Ham.' I have prayed, Newell — 
prayed as no mortal ever prayed,. 

Mark, {Raising .rifle.) Pray, or I 
shoot. 

Ham. Grant me one favor, Mark. 

Mark. Pray -pray. 

Ham. {Dropping to knees.) One 
little favor, Newell, to a man about to 
die. 

Smudge. Oh, father! don't refuse 
him. 



54 THE PIERRE TRAiL.. 

Mark. (Lowering rifle.) Weil, what is 
it Ham Morden? 

Ham. Call RoBe. 

Smudge, She's gone. 

Ham. [Springing to his feet.) Gone! 
Gone where? 

Mark. Hypocrite, you know too well. 

Ham. I have not seen nor spoken 
with her since we parted. 

Mark. And that was not long ago. 

Ham. No, it wasn't long ago. 

Mark. No, your vile work was 
quickly done. 

Ham. I am bewildered — Smudge, 
where IS Rose? 

Smudge. Jim Okoboji and the Indi- 
ans stole her away. 

Ham. (Excitedly.) Mark, lower your 
rifle. I cannot die, yet. 

Enter Hans from house. 

Mark. Time's up. 
[Smudge covers his face with his 
hands. 
Ham. No, Mark, for God sake, not 
yet. I must rescue Rose. Think, man, 
that half-breed — 

Mark, Ham Morden have done with 
this deception. You sent that half- 
breed and the savages to steal m\ 



TilE PIERRE TRAIL. 55 

daughter, and have come yourself to 
et^al my boy, and, perhaps, to murder 
me. But I was on my guard. 

Ham. Mark, we lose time. 

Mark. She cut you loose,- bur, poor 
child, you wouud arouud her lunocent 
heart. 

Ham. If I have sought to rob you of 
your child, why didn't I take her when 
she set me loose. 

Mark. Because she was armed. 

Ham. Armed! Here are her knife 
and revolver, [Takes them from belt. 
Mark threatens him with rifle. Ham 
returns knife and revolver to belt.] 
She gave them to me when we parted. 

Mark. Liar! I saw her knife and 
revolver in her belt after you had left. 

Ham. My God! My God! My Rose! 
I Hans crosses to Mark. 



Mark. 


Time's up. 


Ham. 


No Newell— give me 'til mid. 


nighi. 




Mark. 


{Raising rifle.) Ready! 


Ham, 


'Til midnight—only 'til mid- 


night. 




Mark. 


*Aim! 




[Aims rifle at Ham. 


Ham. 


Only 'til midnight, Mark— only 


'til midi 


3ight. 



56 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Mark. Fire! 
[Hans knocks Mark^s gun up just 
as Mark says the word '"'fire''^ and 
Mark shoots into the air. 
Ham. At midnight, Mark. 
[Dashes off R. R. E. Mark drops 
rifle^ and seizes Hans by throat 
with both hands 
Mark. Meddler! 

Hans, {Pointing pistols over Mark^s 
arms.) Liook here, olt man, don't, you 
mongy mit me, or I plo der whole top 
of your het off. 

[Mark releases Hans. 
Mark. Sir, that man murdered my 
wife fourteeu years ago. By your 
meddlesome intefereoce, you have 
robbed me of a righteous veugeance^ 
(To Smudge,) Come, iMark, we will go 
into the house; make the windows 
secure; bolt and bar the doors, and, let 
come what will, make good our defence 
until morning. 
Smudge. What will Hans do? 
Mark. Let the Dutch fool shift for 
himself. 

[Takes Smudge by the arm and 
leads him into house. Closes door 
behind him with a slam. Bolting 
and barring heard. 



TilE PIERRE TRAlL. 



Hans. Dere is vone ding sure, I don't 
get any shack rabbit to-night. Dotolt 
Vix iss a priddy goot cook, aber I like 
to see vot she cooks pefore she cooks 
him. Vhen she cooks vild shickens or 
shack-rabbits, dot vas all right. You 
can see dem vot it is. Aber vhen she 
makes pologne sausage, look oud. [Gags 
and makes sound in throat. Examines 
bench, R.\ Veil, I subi)ose, I have to 
sleep here on der piazza. Veil, here 
goes. Gute nacht! 

[Drops down on bench and dozes. 

Enter Wix, R. with drawn 
knife. 

Wix. Hah! 

[Steals softly up to Haiis, Raises 

knife to stab him. Hans suddenly 

draws pistols and aims them at her. 

Hans. {Springing to his feet.) Nod 

yet, olt iaty! 

Wix. Waneechee! 

Hans. Come arount here, und come 
quck, or I shoot. [Wix comes around 
bench.] Now sit down on dot bench. 
[Wix sits down on berich.] Vot made 
you run avay, vhen I tolt you to cook 
me some shack-rabbit? 
Wix. Whit« man^ — see urn ghost. 



58 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Dead — see kill um. 

Hans. You mean dot olt feller vot 
vants lo shoot dot oter feller? 

Wix Ugh! him — yes. See um kill 
long time ago. Sure dead. 

Hans. Is dot so! He vas deat, und 
don't know it. Veil, I thought, he vas a 
t— m fool. Whokillthim? 

Wix. No like to tell. 

Hans. {Pointing pistols at her.) Tell. 

Wix. Okoboji. 

Hans. Is dot so! Vas you dere, vhen 
he killt him? 

Wix. {With motions.) Take girl— see 
fall — then get baby. 

Hans. You got a girl, vot has a baby! 

Wix. {Dropping hands.) Waueechee! 

Hans. Veil, is dot Vaneechee mar- 
ried? 

Wix. {Disgusted.) Ugh! 

Hans. Dot means shack-rabbit. Gif 
me dot knife. 

Wix. {Putting knife behind her.) 
Isahn, no - waneechee. 

Hans. {Pointi7ig piiitols at her.) Gif 
it here. [She gives him knife,] I put it 
in mein garbet bag. 

[Gets carpet-bag from near house. 

Wix. Shunkah skah! 
[Hans puts knife in carpet-bag. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 59 

Hans. Dot's der eot of your toad- 
8chticker! 

Wix. Wuneechee. 
[ Yells and report of firearms off, R, 
R. E. 

Hans. Vot's dot! 
^^Runs up stage and looks off, H. 
R.E. 

Wix. {Grabbing up carpet-bag.) Hah, 
washtay! 

[Crosses with carpet-bag to left. 
Takes long strides. Exit, L. 

Hans. Dot must be Indians. Vliere 
IS Vix? (Runs to bench.) She iss gone! 
[Looks around.) Vhere is mein garbet- 
bag! [Enter Wix with, carpet-bag, L. 
R.E. Strides across stage to R. R. E. 
and exits. Hans looking for carpet-bag 
does not see her.\ Sne took It— und 
cnein schnaps, und mein stool, und irein 
vooden- shoes, und — [Shouts and yells 
off, R.R.E. Hans runs up stage and 
looks off.] Indians! Dey're gomin here! 
[Long scream off, R.] Dot's Rosy! 
[Shots and yells off, R. Hans runs 
to house.) Oben dot door! Der Indians 
vas killen Rosy. Oben der door! Oben 
der door. {Pounds and kicks door.) 
Oben dot door, or I shoot der key- 
hole oud. 



60 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

[Door opened. 

Enter Smudge from house. 

Smudgfe. What's the matter, Hans? 
HaDs. Der Indians vas killin Rosy. 
[Whoops, shots, and yells off, R.R.E. 

Ham Morden backs on, R.R.E. 
firiiig revolver. Ffas Rose in 
faint on left arm. 

Smudge. {Cal/s into house.) Father! 

Father! Come quick, the Indians are 

killing Rose. 

[Hans rnns to rear and getting 
between Ham and R. fires with 
both pistols to off, R.R.E. 

Mark Newell rushes from house 

Mark. Where, oh, where is my 
daughter! 

Ham. {With Hose, C.) She is here, 
safe in my arms. ' 

[Tableau^— light thrown @n Ham 
aiid Rose, 

DROP-CURTAIN. 



njE PIERRE TRAIL. 61 



ACT III. 

SCENE. Same as in act first. 
Time, night. Moon gone. Lights, 
very low. 

Hans with rifle discovered 
walking np and doivn stage- 
Hans. I bin on guart. Of I catch 
dot Vix mil meiQ garOel-bag, she neffer 
try dot atjain, {[Vulks.) Ach! of I die 
by desA lodianer sviuekopfs, Katreena 
vill get raein affidav'Tt for zwei tau send 
dollar. I take a schraoke. 

[Takes out pipe, fills it, lights it, 
and smokes. 

Enter Wix ivith Hans' carpet - 
hag, R. H. E. Steals toumrds L. 
R. E. Hans turns, sees her. 

Wix. Seolieedo! 

HaoH. Mein Got, mein i^Hibet-ujiui 
{Points rifle at Wix.) Sic<p, (;r I e-!ii>ot. 



62 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

{Wix stops.) Come here mit dot gfarbet- 
bag. [Wix adv.inces ivith carpet-hag. \ 
Drop it. [She drops carpet-bag. ^^ Now. 
sit down on dot bench. [She sits down 
on bench ivith a bump.] Dot's right. 
Alvays do vot I tola you, oddervise you 
might die suddenly. [Lights match, 
holds it close to her face, looks at her 
and laughs^] Veil, you vas a sunflower, 
anyvay. You don't get avay again. 
[Calls.) xM-iss. Rosy! Miss. Rosy! 

Enter Hose from house. 

Rose. What is it, Hans? 

Enter Mark 'Newell from house. 
Has rifle. 

Hans, Here is dot squaw, V'lx. 1 
vant some rope to tie her mit. 

Mark. {Starting for Wix.) Stand 
back-^you'll need no rope. 

[Ro.'ie grasps MarVs arm and 
speaks in low voice. 

Rose. Father, Ham gave strict orders 
not to harm Wix. He said, thouijh Jim 
Okoboji had nearly destroyed his 
influence with the tribe, th»t if finally 
attacked by the Indians and overcotrie 
before Dan arrived, he was confident he 
could persuade Wix to intercede for our 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 63 



lives. 

Mark. And what would her inter- 
cession avail? 

Rose. Everything. She is the sister 
of Red Dog, the Sioux chief who is now 
dowh on the river with his band. 

Mark. Rose, you have thwarted me 
at every turn. But for you, I should 
not now be etrugglinjr between duty to 
your mother, and gratitude for the 
preservation of your life and honor. 

Rose. Ham says, if they find W\x 
dead- 
Mark. They need not tind her. We 
can dispose of the body. 

[Pushes Rose aside and advances 
upon Wix. Rose follows him. 

Wix. {Springing up) Hah! White 
man no doad! White squaw dead sure. 

Mark. {Seizing Wix by the throat.) 
L«et me strangle her. 

Rose. No, father, no! Wait. 
[Removes Mark^s hand from Wix^s 
throat. 

Rose. Hans, take the squaw into the 
house, bind her securely, and return to 
me. 

Smudge. Why not put her in the 
cellar. Rose? 

Mark. A good idea! Then we'll liave 



64 THE PJERRE TRAIL. 

the hideous thing out of sight. I can 
hardly bear to -look at her. 1» the 
cellar secure? 

Rose. Yes, father. 

Mark. Then put her in the cellar. 

Hans, {T&uching hat) 1 do dot, mein 
herr. {Pushes IVix towards house.) Id 
you go, olt laty ! 

Enter ,Ham from house with 
clock and lighted lantern, 

Wix. Ham, Hc^m, no let um. ^ 

Hatn. {Apparavtly demented.) Away 
hag, touch me not! What woman is 
this? 

Hans. {Pushing Wix into house.) In 
mit you! In mit you! 

[Exeunt Wix, Hans, and Smudge 
into house. 

Ham. I have twenty minuets yet. 
[Sets clock and lantern on bench. \ I 
must have some rope — some rope to 
bind me with. Will you bind me, Rose? 
I might escape, if you do not bind me. 
{Starting and pointing.) Ha, look 
Newell — there! 

Mark. {Wildly.) Oh, God! 

Ham. {Staring and dazed.) Whot^e 
God? 

uo8e. {Teii.derly.) Come, father Hun; 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 65 

Come into the house. My mother has 
spoken to my henrt. j Turning to Mark 
suddenly.] Father, «]o you know my 
conclusion? Kam Morden is not guily. 

Mark. (With a groan.) 1 would, it 
wer« sol 

Ham. But I am guilty. Come, bind 
me. Bind me. 

[Puts hands behind him. 

Rose. With my arms, poor Ham, 
with my arms. 

[Puts arm around Ham and leads 
him into house. 

Mark. Greater is the struggle within 
me to iDfliot":. the penalty, than for him 
to bear it. I swore to kill the man who 
killed my wife. And shall I perjure 
myself! Jei)htha swore to sacrifice first 
whom he met. He met his daughter, 
but he kept his vow. This is my 
precedent, set down in God's own book. 
I'll keep my vow. 

Enter Rose from house. She 
has rifle. Sets rifle down near 
door and advances to Mark. 

Rose. Father? 

Mark. Well, what now? 

Rose. Nothing, only- 

Mark. Weil? 



66 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Rose. I fear, Ham will lose hie 
reason. 

Mark. 1 fear, I shall lose mine. 

Rose. Father, you do not mean to— 

Mark. Time will tell. 

Rose. I do not like your answer. 

Mark. I will do nothing but what 
God justifies. Let that be your conso- 
lation. Watch roe — watch the clock. 

[Exit into house. 

Rose. He means to shoot Ham. 
Oh, what can be done to save Ham's 
reason? What done to save my father 
from so rash an act? My mind is set in 
the belief that Ham is not guilty. The 
half-breed and the squaw to make 
themselves secure against his conscience, 
may have told him, that he shot my 
mother. If Ham was drunk enough to 
entertain an act so cruel, he was too 
drunk to shoot with any aim. And 
besides, my father positively declares, 
he found no gunshot wound upon my 
poor mother's body. She was stabbed — 
stabbed from behind. Ham says, he 
shot her, but positively denies he 
stabbed her. There is some mistake — 
some savage lie. If my father should 
shoot Ham, and then find out he had 
killed an innocsnt man, such horror 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 67 

aod remorse would arise witbiD him, 
that he would go raving mad. I must 
do something to prevent it. 

Enter Huns with rifte from 
house. 

Han8. Veil, Miss Rosy, I put her in 
der cellar. 

Rose. Did you pull up the ladder.? 

Hans. I ditn't see none. 

Rose. Didn't she go down the ladder? 

Hans. No; I shooat dropped her in, 
kerplunk. 

Rose. I hope you didn't hurt her. 

Hans. She diin'l sa} noddmgs. 

Rose. {Going towads house,) Well, 
watch the river, and warn us of any 
danger. 

Hans. You bet, I do dot. 

Rose. Have you plenty of ammuni- 
tion? 

Hans. Mein belt is full. 

Rose. Be on your guard, Hans. 
{Turns light in lantern down low.) The 
Sioux are very cunning. 

Haofi. Yah, dese Indians vae achly. 
Dey shump up ven you don't oxspect 
dem. 

Rose. Watch the river. 

Hans. Yah, I do dot. {Exit Rose 



68 THE PIERRE TRAIL 

into house.) 1 can see better rait dot 
liijhtoop. {Turns light in lanten up.) It 
gets priddy dark by midnight, ven der 
moon goes down. Dose Indians is more 
quiet as diey vere. [Wix appears at 
rear end of house, gives terrific whoop, 
and vanishes. Hans jumps and shoots 
rifle in air. Yells—] Indiane! Indians! 

Mark with rifle rushes from 
house. 

Mark. What's the matter, sir? 

Hans. [Sheepishly.) 1 heard someding 
yell. 

Mark. I heard it, too. 

Hans. Yah, it vas loud. 

Mark. It couldn't have been a coyote. 

Hans. It djtn't sount like it. 

Mark. It was a terrific screech, 

Hans. It must 'a peen Indians. 

Mark. I heard a shot, also. 

Hnns. Yah, dot vas me. 

Mark. Did you shoot at something? 

Hans. I dita'i see, vol it vas. 

Mark. You better put that lantern 
under the bench. It exposes you to the 
tire of any bidden foe. 

Hans. Dot lighi ;s ail right Of der 
Indians come. I Jsee dem by dot 
lurht. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 69 

Mark. Ruh! the Indiana wili see you 
by dot light, and put a bullet throngh 
you. 

Hans. (SircasticaUy.) You denk eo? 

Mark. You better keep your eyes and 
ears open. 

Hans. I keep dem oben. 
[Beating of Indian drum off, R. h. 
E. 

Mark. The Indians are still stirrinjjf- 
[Indian chant and drum off, R.R.E. 

Hans. Dey must be having ein 
surbrise barty. 

Mark. If they don't surprise us, I 
shall be thankful. Look sharp, sir. 

Hans. Yah, mein herr— [Exit Mark 
into house.] — pumperknickel. I dun't 
like dot olt grank. He's too stiff in der 
back oop. He all der vhile vants to kill 
dot oter olt feller. I keep meIn eye on 
him. Of he gets too shmart, I tell him 
vot it is. 

Enter Rose from house. 

Rose Hans, I fear Wix has escaped. 
I looked down the collar with a candl*», 
and saw nothing there but a great pile 
of wood and brush. 

Hans. Is dot so! 

{Rushes info hoi<^c 



70 THE PIERRE TRAIL 

Rose. Now, may God help me! 

[Turns rustic chair around, back of 
chair to audience. Piills it hack 
some distance in rear of bench and 
in line with left half of bench, the 
lantern and clock being on right. 
Picks up robe from rustic chair 
and spreads it over chair. Gets 
gun cautiously from against 
house. Returns to chair and hides 
under rbbe. 

Eater Hans from house ivith 
rifle. 

Hans. She grawled oud. Vhere iss 
Rosy ! 

[Looks around. 

Enter Ham from house with 
rope. 

Ham. {Looking at clock,) The time 
is nearly up. I must be bound. ('J'o 
Hans.) Oh, sir! won't you bind me? 

Hans. Nod by a t— m sight! 

[Exit into house 

Ham. Then I must bind myself. {Sits 
down, on left of bench and binds his 
legs.) There, — but I can't bind my arms 
behind me. [Enter Smudge from 
house.] Come, Smudge, my boy. bind 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 71 

my arms, and I'll Bpealc a good word for 
you, up above. 

Stpudge. No, Ham, T wouldn't tie a 

cord on you for all that is in the world. 

[Exit into house. 

Ham. There is no one to bind me, 
and I must be bound. The love of life 
is strong, and near it's close, the 
strongest break in resolution. [Enter 
]\fnrk from house ivith rifle.] Come, 
Mark, bind ray hands. [Looks at clock.] 
I have ten minuets yet. Come, Mark, 
come! Bind me — you are the execu- 
tioner. [Mark groans.] I tell you, Mark^ 
I must be bound. Come, bind my 
arms behind me. [Mark binds Ham^s 
arms behind back. Exit Mark into 
house with bowed head.] Seven minuets 
more, and I shall meet her face to face. 
Do I dred death? I killed the mother, 
but I saved the children. (Rises to feet.) 
No, I do not fear to die. {With deep 
mental agony.) But. Oh! I wish I ne^er 
had been wrong. {Starting and staring 
into space.) Hah, Hbere she is nowf 
Liook! upon her breast, bright red upon 
her snowy garment, Is the bloody 
mark of my cruel crime. 

[8ink$ down on bench and moans. 



72 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Enter Wix, E, She steals up 
behind Ham and binds red 
bundana handkerchief over his 
mouth. Draws knife and walks 
around in front of him. 

Wix. Wot think 'bout old liag, Wix, 
DOW? She no fool. Ham big fool. 
[Mark appears in door of houae ; pauses 
and listens] Got to die to night 'caupe 
kill nobody. Kara no kill white squaw. 
Ha in shoot — too drunk — shoot up in air. 
Me stand 'hind white equaw — Ham 
shoot up in air — me stab whitb squaw — 
stab her in back. {Mark overcome 
grasps side of door.] Ham no love Wix, 
anymore -no, no more. Know it, now. 
Find out. Say |ove me — shake head, 
yes — out cord — PJam go loose. Do all, 
Ham want done. [Ham shahes head 
"mo."] Got die then—die to-night— no 
help. Die, 'cause kill nobody. Hani 
fool — big fool. Ugh, heaj) big fool! 
Time pritty soon — white man come — 
take gun— shoot Ham. [Clock strikes 
twelve. Ham tiii^ns back to clock. Sits 
071 bench facing L. Wix sidelcs around 
to left of bench and facing Ham Mark 
sinkn back in door. Wix looks towards 
house, but does not see Mark] Clock 



TICE PIERRE TRAIL. 73 

strike— white man not come. White 
man no come, (Flourishes knife and 
hisses.) me kill you 

[Shot fired by Rose from rustic 

chair. Wix falh with a. screech, 

throicing Jcnife from her. Ham 

springs to his feet. ^ Rose slips out 

from under robe and steals off, 

R. H. E. Mark staggers to Ham,' 

and releases his hands. Ham 

tears handkerchief from face. 

^ Ham. Mark, I am not guilty. I did 

not kill your wife. {With puin and 

dejection.) But— but I was there. 

Mark. Thank God, you were! By 
God's providence you were there to save 
my children. 

Ham, I never thougrht of that! f 
nov^er thoujjht of that. How wonderful 
are the ways of providence! 

Mark. What if I had killed you! 
Ham. Think not of it! Who shot 
Wix? Did you? 
Mark. No. 

[Kneels and releases Hani's legs. 
Ham. Who did? 
Mark. I don't know. 

[Rises to feet. 

Ham. The shot was tired closo to me 

I could smell the powder. For the 



74 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

instant, I thought il was you —that I 

was shot. 
Mark. I saw the flash of the shot 

It was over there. 

[Points to rufitic chair. 
HaiTi. Where is Rose? 
Mark. She left the house- 
Ham. Mark, God has avenged us 

'—both. 

[Throivs arms about Mark. 
Mark. Thank God, I didn't shoot 

>-u! 

Rose rushes on from H.R.E., 
screaming. 

Ham, It is Rosel 

Mark. What's the matter, daughter? 

Rose. The half-breed— the Indians! 

[Great burst of lurid red light from 

off, R. Stage lit up from that side. 

Ham. They have fired the barn, 

and the stacks. 

Enter Hans from house. 

Hans. Vot. iss it tay light, alretty! 

Enter Smudge from house. 

Smudge. Oh, my! Whai is it, Rose? 
What has happened? 
Rose. The Indians have set fire to 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 



the barn aod haystacks. 

[Long ivhoop off, R. R. E. 
Ham. Tliey will attack us. [^Whoops 
and yells off, R. h'. E.] They are upon 
us! My rifle! 

{Starts for Iwuse. 
Mark. Daughter, get my rifle. It 
in the door. 

[Rose starts for house. 

Enter Jim Okoboji and Indians 
stealthily from R. R. E. 

Snaudge. Look, father] 

{Ham picks up Mark^s rifle in door. 
Rose. The half-breed! 

[Mark turns. Okoboji raises rifle 

and shoots him. 
Mark. My God, I am shot! 

[Reels and falls. Rose screams. 
Indians yell aud advance. Hans 
draws pi.Hto!s. 
Hans, Back. Smooch! Get pehind 
me, l?osy. 

[Hans advances upon Jim and 
Indians, firing pistols. Ham 
rushes to Mark, and fires at Jim 
and Indians over him. Cheers and 
shouts off L. R. E, Jim and 
Indians retreat to right rear. 



76 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Major Dan Corbin and Coiu- 
boys rush O'l from L. 
skouting and firing. 
Major. Chase the red devils across 
the river, boys. {Rushes to Rose and 
throws arms around her.) Rose, Rose, 
my darling. 

Rose. Oh, Dan, have you come ut 
last! [Jim and Indiayis retreat off R. R^ 
E. followed by coivboijs shouting and 
shooting.} My father- 
Major, Your father! 
Rose. Yes. See! {Points to Mark.) 
The half-breed shot him. 

[Major, Rose and Smudge go to 

Mark, and kneel around him. Rose 

raises his head into her arms. 

Major takes Mark's hand in his. 

Major. He is living. 

Rose. Father? 

Mark. {Rousing up.) I— yes— What 
is it, daughter? 

Rose. Major Corbin is here. He is 
holding your hand. 

Mark. {Feebly.) Ah, Dan, I am 
thankful you have come. I hardly 
ihougnt, when I left you yesterday 
morning, that I should be lying here. 
I guess the villain has finished rne. 
Major. You should have waited. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 77 

Mr. Newell, and come with me. 

Mark. Perhaps, I should, my young 
friend. But I nevt^r waited yet because 
of dangrer. 

Major. We must get your father into 
the house, at once. Rose. He is covered 
with blood. We must hurry. 

Rose. - Do you think, father, if we 
assist you, you could walk. 
Mark. I can try. 
[Ham and Hans ntand R. R. 
looking off R . Yells off R; then, 
cheers, then shots Horn and Hans 
rush off R. 
Major. We must hurry. There mav 
be more fighting out here, 

[Major, Rose, and Smudge assist 
Mark into house. 

Enter Katreena Fledermaus, L. 

Katreena. It may be Hans is here. 
He sail he looks him a heimstet oud, 
down on der Chf^yenne riffer by der 
Pierre crossing. Der Indians is gone. 
Oh. dot vas awful shooting! [Several 
shots off , R] Der Indians! 

[Starts towards, L. 

Hans backs on from, K. with 
drawn pistols 



78 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Haus. {Speaking to off R.) Der cow- 
poys vill drive dem into der riv^er. 

[Katreena turns, sees Hans. 
Katreena. Hans! Hans! 
Hana. {Turning .) Vot, Katreena! How 
dit you get here — in a paloon? 

Katreena. No; by der stage, Hans - 
by Major Corbin's. You glat I come? 
Hans. Yahhhhhh! 
[ They rush into each other''s arms. 
As Hans' arms close around her 
one of the jnotols in his hands goes 
off. Katreena screams. 
Katreena. Ach,dergun! 
Hans. It vent off, dot's all. Veil, 
cdme, ve go in der house. Rosy is dere 
Katreena, Rosy? 
Hans. Yah— a fine young vomans. 
Karreena. {Notices fire.) Oh my, vot a 
fire! 

Hans. Der Indians done it. 
[Katreena sees Wix. Jumps hack 
with slight scream. 
Katreena. Vot's dot! 
Hans. Dot's a deat— I naean a goot 
Injin. Come, ve go in der house. 

[Exeunt Hans and Katreena into 
house. 

Enter Ham Morderi E. R. E. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 79 

Turns, looks off, then advances. 

[Wix raises up on hands. 
Wix. {In very feeble voice.) Ham! 
Ham! 

[Ham pauses and looks doion upon 
her. 
Ham. Well? 

Wix. Goin die. Ham. Come close. 
Been Ham's squaw long time. Goin die, 
DOW. Come, Ham. Wan say, sorry. 

{Ham kneels down by her. 
Hnra. Well— I'm sorry, loo. 
[Wix snatches knife from Ham's 
belt and tries to stab him. Ham 
catches her arm and wrenches 
knife gently from her hand. Rises 
to feet J takes up lantern and clock. 
Exit into house. Closes door. 

Enter Jim Okoboji and Red 
Dog cautiously, R. They speak 
in low voice. 

Jim. Wix! Wbat's the matter? 

Wix. Sbot. 

Jim. Who shot you? 

Wix. No see. 

Jim. Here is your brother, the chief, 
Red Dog. 

Wix. Shunksha! Shunksba! 



80 THE PJERRE TRAIL 

Red Dog. {Bending over her:) Hah — 
secheedo! Who shoot? 

Wix. Not koovv — wanneechee. 

Jim. The cowboys are after the band. 
We slipped into the grove, and they 
passed us by. If we could get into the 
house and kill all but the girl before 
the cowboys return — 

W;x. Me get in house. Got hole in 
cellar. Got wood,— got brush in cellar. 
Make fire in cellar -house burn — white 
man run out— Shunksha shoot—Jim 
shoot — get girl. 

Red Dog. Ugh! Ugh! Waehtay! 

Jino. Wix can't do anything. Show 
me the plac*>. I'll g© into the cellar. 

Wix. No. Me go. I — you — me — put 
in cellar. Like to light fire. Make 
heart feel good. Kill me— yes. No 
matter— got die soon— too bad shoot. 

Jim. What do you say, Red Dog? 

Red Dog Barn house. Kill Kolah- 
skah. 

Jim. Good! We'll drop Wix in the 
cellar. 

Wix. Yes— yes^-me go in cellar. 

Red Dog. I— me— go too. Make fire. 
Shoot— kill— Ugh, washtay! 

[Jim and Red Dog lift Wix up by 
the arms and assist her off i?. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 81 

Enter Major Dan Corbin and 
Rose from house They sfand in 
door. 

Major. Everything is quiet. 

Rose. The barn is still burning. 

Major. The boys will drive the red- 
skins across the river back on to the 
reservation. 

Rose. We will leave here in the 
morning. 

Major. Yes, most certainly, in the 
morning. 

Rose. Father is very weak. 

Ma]Or. He will die, dear. 

Rose. Come, let us go to hitu. 
{Exeunt Rose and Major into 
house. 

Jim Okoboji steals on from R. 

Jim. I heard voices — the door is 
open. 

Enter Rose from house. 

Rose. {Wipiyig eyes with handker- 
chief.) Poor father! 

[Jim aims rifle at her, 

Jim. Silence! Come to me, or I fire 

[Cowboys steal on along river from 

/i*. R. E. Rose dodges into house.. 

Jim fires. Cowboys advance with a 



82 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

yell. They spread out whole width 
of stage, enveloping Jim. Jim 
rushes towards L. Is intereepted 
by cowboy. Cowboy wrenches rifle 
from him. Jim di'aws knife, and 
backs to C. endeavoring to find 
opening for escape. Major rushes 
from house with pistol in hand Is 
followed by Hans with pistols, and 
Ham with rifle. Smudge appears 
in door. Jim turns, and faces 
Major. Major shoots him. 
Jiin. D — ID you Corbin, you have 
killed me. 

[Falls and dies, 

DROP' CURTAIN. 



TitE PIERRE TRAIL. 83 



ACT IV. 

SCENE. Inside Ham Morden's 
house. Door in rear scene, C. Door, 
L. Bunk in wall of rear scene, 
extreme L. Bed in right corner. 
Small table near head of bed with 
lamp on it, lit. Lighted lamp with 
reflector on each side of center door. 
Chairs, furs and beaded robes about 
room. Deer head over center door. 
Guns on wall, and various Indian 
weapons such as war-clubs, bows and 
arrows etc. Large ivar-bonnet on 
wall over head of bed. 

Discovered: Mark lying in 
bed. Ham seated in large chair 
near bed. Major and Rose 
seated, C. Hans and Katreenu 
seated in front of bunk, L. 
Smudge asleep on some furs, 
right of center door. 

Major. It was late, Rose, but not too 
lato. 



84 THE PIERRE TRAIL 

Rose. My father — 

Major. Too bad! Sorry— 

Rose. Half an hour sooner — 

Major. I made all possible haste. 
The ranch was surrounded by the 
treacherous dogs. We hud to drive 
them back to get to you- I hope you 
will forgive m^^, Rose. 

Rose. What for? You did the best 
you could. Who can do more? 

[Major takes ring from pocket. 

Major. May I place this ring again 
upon your finger? 

[Rose extends hand. Major puts 
ring on her Jinger. Hans and 
Katreena converce apart in low 
voice. 

Hans. Yah, I got me dot farm picked 
oud. 

Katreena. Dit you, Hans! 

Hans. Yah; und it's fine. 

Katreena. Von't ve be happy! 

Hans. It is down by der river. 

Katreena, By der riffer? 

Hans. Yahhh. Und dere is a nice 
bluff rait a voots on it. 

Katreena. A voots? 

Hans, Yah, cedar — fine cedar. 

Katreena. Dot is shoost der ding for 
tire-vood und post-holes. 



THE PIEiRRE TRAIL. 85 

Hans. Yah.— Und ven ve got some 
slaldrens — 

Katreena. Kush! der peobles vill 
hear you. 

Hans. Der olt man in der bed is 
priddy bat hurt. 

Kalreena. (Shaking head.) 1 don't 
denk he gets petler. 

Enter Mahzahskah at door, L. 

Mahzfihskah. Cowboy conae; say, 
white man wan see me. 

[Major and Rose arise. 

Rose. Yes, come — the white ^man is 
my father. Ho is lying in the bed. The 
half-breed, OUoboji, shot him. 

Mahzahskah. Okoboji shoot him! 
Ugh, s e-e e cheedo! 

[Rose leads Mahzahskah to bedside. 

Rose. Here, father, is Mahzahskah, 
the friendly Indian mentioned in your 
letter. 

Mark. Mahzahskah, you have seen 
my face before. 

Mahzahskah. Ugh! see you, sure. 
Long go — when boy. {With wave of 
hand towards Hara.) Kohlahskah send 
me. Sring you dinner — bring water — 
bring pony. Got penny — you give. 
(Takes string with Chinese coin on 
it from neek, and holds it up before 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 



Mark.) See, same penny. Got hole in it. 
Mark. It is the same. 
Mahzahskah. Take money — you give 
me -when come back — give mother — 
mother olap han -say, washtay! Then 
call me, Mahzahskah. Mahzahskah 
mean money in Sioux. 

Mark' God bless yuu, Mahzahskah! 
(Takes Mahzahskah's hand.) God bless 
you for your kindness io me! But Jim 
Okoboji has finished me. 

Mahzahskah. Jim Okoboji— secheedo! 
Major Dan shoot him— m» take him 
scalp. 

[Holds up scalp; draws knife-, 
flourishes it; gives low whoop. 
Returns scalp and knife to belt. 
Extends hand to Mark. Mark 
grasps it. 
Mark. God bless you, Mahzahskah! 
Mahzahskah. White man go spirit — 
Wahkahn! 

[Retires to L.C. Major advances to 
bedside. 
Major. I hope, ,Mr. Newell, you are 
feeling better. 

Mark. I anci so near dead, I hardly 
feel at all. 

Rose. {Kneeling at bedside.) Oh 
father, have hope! 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 87 

Mark. I fear, hope will not avail me. 

Rosf^. {HiHing.) Have some more 
brandy. 

Mark. {Faintly.) Yes, more brandy, 
daughter. yRose gives him brandy 
from small table,] There! I feel better. 
Major Corbin give me your hand. 
IMajor gives hand to Mark.] In your 
le^.ter. you wrote me, you loved this 
girl, and desired to make her your wife. 

Major. I did. , 

Mark. Rose, come close. {Puts jRose\s 
hand in Major^s) Take her, Daniel - 
love her — protect her. 

Major. With my life. 

Mark. That is all for the present. I 
must rest. 

[Major retires to C Rose kneels at 
bedside. Takes fQther''s hand and 
bows head upon it. 

Major. Mahzahskah, I received word, 
yesterday, that two troops of cavalry 
had left Fort Mead for the Cheyenne. 
They ma,y be camped a few miles from 
here. 1 wish you would ride up the 
Dead wood trail, and if you come upon 
them, hurry them along. 

Mahzahskah. Fetch'um quick. All 
on jump, 

[Exit at door, L. 



88 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Major. You beUer get some sleep. 
Rose. 

[/I'o.se rHses to her feet. 
Ham. Yes, Rose, you must get aome 
sleep. I'll watch your father to-night. 
If he grows worse, I'll call you. 

Major. I have stationed the boys at 
various points around the ranch, and I 
must go and visit them, or they'll think 
I've forgotten them. 

[Rose goes to Major. 
Rose. Do you think the Indians will 
come again to-night? 

Major. No, not tonight. I am .quite 

confident of that. They've had enough 

for a few hours. I am sure the cavalry 

will be along some time in the morning, 

so don't worry any more, dear, about 

the Indians. Ham will wfitch your 

father, and I will watch the Indians, 

while you sleep. Good night! {Kisses 

her.) Hans, secure the door after me. 

[Hana and Katreena arise. Hans 

advances to Major, and Katreena 

crosses ^> Rose. 

Hans, {Assumes position of a soldier^ 

and salutes Major.) Yah, mein herr 

Major. 

[Major returns salute and exits at 
door, L. Hans secures door. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL, 89 

Rose Ham, you go an<J rest, and I 
will remain with father. You are tired, 
and racked with the sorrow and horror 
of the night. 

Ham. I feel as fresh as though I had 
slept. That awful burden that throbbed 
within my brain, shed itself in tears. 
My mind is free, and I am free. Go, 
Rose, and Katreena can go with you. 

[Rose goes to bedside. 

Rose. Well, good night, father. I 
ought not to leave you, but Ham insists. 

Mark. {Weakly.) Ham is right: you 
were right. If I had killed Ham, I should 
have been damned for all eternity. You 
are like your mother. Rose, in form, in 
face, in voice — exactly like her. Who 
sees you. sees her. 

Ham. {Clasping hands and looking 
up—aside.) I saw her, to-night. 

[Rose bends over Mark. He embraces 
and kisses her. 

Mark. Go, my dear, dear, daughter. 
We'll dream of her. [Points up.) Your 
loving, gentle, mother — you sleep — she 
sleeps— yes, sleeps— in that lonely grave 
down— down — on the Pi«rre trail. I'll 
•oon be with her. 

Rose. {Sobbing and crying.) No, no, 
father! 



90 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

[Ham groans and weeps. Hans 
and Katreena advance and look 
on sympathcticalljj, 
Mark. Go— sleep, daughter, or— you 
will be a tired nurse. 

Rose. {Tenderly,} Good oight, father. 
[Kisses Mark. Turns down light in 
lamp on small table aud goes tOy C.J 
Come, Katreena. Good night, Bans. 
Wane. Goot night. Miss Rosy. 
[Hans retires to, L.R. Rose moves 
towards center door, stops, turns, 
and gazes at Ham. Advances to 
him and kisses him on forehead. 
Rose. Good night, father Ham. 
Ham. {With deep pathos.) Good 
night, my daughter! 

[Rose and Katreena turn down 

light in lamps and exeunt at C. 

door, closing door behind ihem.^ 

Hans. Veil, I lay me down in der 

bunk und take a schnooze. [Tumbles 

into bunk^-disapnears. Raises up and 

peers out.\ No vone can zee you,vhen 

you schleep here. 

[Lies down— ^disappears. 

Mark. Give me your hand, Ham. 

[Ham gives hand. Mark holds it.] 

Ham, I am going to die to-night. Be a 

father to Rose and Mark when I am 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 91 

gone. You will, won't you? 

Ham. Mark, Mark, you know, I will. 

Mark. Rose loves you, Ham, better 
than she does me. I disgusted her. I 
was a fool — a hasty fool. I have always 
been too hasty. 

Ham. Too habty, Vlark? 

Mark. Yes, I always acted first* and 
thought afterwards. 

Ham. You have had great sorrow. 

Mark. I was in such a hurry to kill 
you. More of my haste and foolishness. 

Ham. You thought I had killed your 
wife — the mother of your children — a 
dear and gentl« mother. 

IGroariK. 

Mark. Yes, I thought you had killed 
her. ' , 

Ham. I thought so too. 

Mark. It was in the letter, and I 
believed it, and would have killed you. 
I was a fool. You'll forgive me. Ham? 

Ham. Forgive you, Mark! God 
bless you! yes, if there was anything fco 
forgive. 

Mark. {After a pause.) Ham, what 
brought you here? 

Ham. Bad influences first; love for a 
woman, next— a woman who — Oh, well! 
Then drink. That sums it up. 



92 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Mark A great soul cursed with an 
evil destiny I 
Ham. Destiny!— Yes, destiny. 
Mark. What state do you hail from, 
Ham? 

Ham. Kentucky. 
Mark. You are a Southerner. 
Ham. Yes, I was born in the South, 
but spent most of my early years in the 
North. 

Mark. You must have seen some 
wild times here. 

Ham. Yes, wild — and bad. Very 
bad. 

Mark. Well, you are all right now. 
Ham. 

Ham. Yes, thank God, — thank God! 
Mark. Mine is a cruel fate, but I 
thank God, too. I— I— thank—thank 
God, too. I thank God— yes— 

[Mark .tinks into silence and sleep 
still holding HarrCs hand. Finally 
Ham nods and sinks into sleep. 
Cellar door^ L. slowly raised, and 
Wix and Red Dog appear ascend- 
ing from cellar. Red Dog lowers 
cellar door noiselessly over hack. 
Wii. {In whisper.) All sleep. 
Red Do^. {In whisper.) Ugh, kill all! 
[Red Dog assists Wix up on to 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 93 

stage. Red Dog descends into cellar. 
Wix crawls to Hani's chair. Raises 
herself slowly, noiselessly and 
cautiously to her feet by holding 
to HanVs chair. Draws knife with 
right hand and holds chair with 
left. Raises knife to stab Ham in 
back. Hesitates, then lowers knife. 
Raises knife again to stab', hesi- 
iates; shakes head, and lowers 
knife. 

Wix. {In low voice.) No. 

Mark. [In gasping whisper.) Ham! 
Ham! 

[PFiaj stares at Mark. Mark makes 
a few feeble struggles and dies. 
His hand slips lifelessly from 
Ham's and hangs over side of bed. 
Red Dog appears in cellar opening. 
Motions vehemently to Wix to 
to stab Ham. She raises knife, 
hesitates, shakes head, and lowers 
knife. 

Wix, (In low voice.) No can. 
[Red Dog draws knife and starts to 
crawl out on stage. Cavalry bugle 
sounded at distance outside. 

Red Dog. {In low voice.) Hah 
oavary! 

[Cavalry bugle sounds outside. Shot 



94 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

fired outside. 
Red Dog. Hah! 

Enter Rose followed by Katreena 
C. door. 

{Red Dog hastily retreats into 

cellar. 
Rose. Ham! Ham! 

{Ham springs to his feet. 
Ham. [Dazed and half asleep.) I — yes! 
Where— (Turns, sees Wix.) You! 

{He steps back from her. She stabs 

herself; throws knife from her, 

and stretches hands towards Ham. 
Wix. {Entreatingly .) Ham! 

Falls forward on face, and dies. 

Hans jumps frotn bunk nearly 

falling into cellar. 
Hans. Der cellar is oben. I nearly 
venfcin. 
Ham. What has happened, Rose? 
Rose. Indians in the house. There — 
[Points to cellar. 
Ham. In the cellar! 
Hans. Gan it be! 

{Ham rushes to cellar and looks in. 

Hans draws pistols and looks in 

cellar. Smoke followed by fire 

comes up from cellar. 
Hans. Fire! 
Hara. The house is on fire! Wix has 



TILE PIERRE TRAIL. 95 

set fire to the woo<jl and brush in the 
cellar. 
Hans. Yah, she done it. 
Rose. Father is very still. 

I Rushes to bedside. 
Katreeoa. Oh, Hans, vot vill ve do! 
Hans. Don't be scart, Katreena. 
Rose. Father! Father! (Feels Mark's 
hands and face.) Why, Ham. father is 
dead! 

llaiD. D#»adl 
[Hans rushes to door, L; throivs it 
open, and fires pistol into air. 

Major and cowboys rush in 
at door, L. 

iVIajor. What is the matter? 
Ham. Rose says, she saw Indians 
there. 

{Points to cellar. 
Major. The house is on tire! 
Rose. Oh, Dan! father is dead. 
[Major crosses to bedside and feels 
Mark's hand. 
Major. lt< is as I expected. Come, 
Rose! Come, Katreena! We must tret 
out of here. See the fire is creeping up 
the wall. 

Ham. Hurry! There is powder in 
the cellar. 



96 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Major. No time to loose. Hurry, 
Rose! Out— out, Katreena! 

[He hurries RosQ and Katreena to 
L. 

Major. Hans you look after Rose and 
Katreena. 

Hans. Yah, mein Herr Major! 

Rose. Where is Sinudsje? 

Ham. Smudge! (Rushes to Smudge^ 
und pulls back robe.) Smudg*^! Smudge! 
(Shakes him.) Smudge! Smudge! He 
is dead asleep. (Lifts him up.) Smudge! 
Smudge! 

Smudge. (Wuking up.) Who — who — 
What's the matter? 

Ham. The house is on fire. 

Smudge. Who set it on tire? 

Ham. Indians. 

Smudge. Where is Rose? 

Ham. Over there. 

[Points to L. 

Hans. Yah, ve are all here, Smooch. 
\ Smudge hurries to koee. 

Rose. We nearly forgot you, brother! 

Smudge. I was awful sleepy. 

Katreena. Oh, Hans! Look how der 
fire burns. 

Rose. Dan, my father! 

Major. Come, boys, carry out Mr. 
Newell. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 97 

Ham. Hurry! Hurry! The powder! 

Major. Yes — the powder! Hurry, boys! 
[Coivboys carry Nev^ell out door, L. 
folloiced by Rose, Smudge, Katree- 
na, Hans and Major. Ham dashes 
off center door. Shouting and 
shooting outside, L. Bed Dog, kn\fe 
in hand, backs on at door, L. Enter 
Ham with small tin box at center 
door, hied Dog turns and sees 
Ham. Ham dodges to door, L. and 
throivs out tin box. Red Dog and 
Ham grapple and struggle. Red 
Dog tries to stab Ham. Ham 
pushes him back in front of open 
door, L. Shot outside, L, Red Dog 
is shot. Throivs up hands and 
staggers back from Flam. Ham 
springs out at door, L. Red Dog 
staggers to door, L. and with great 
effort closes it and bars it. Falls 
against door, slides down it, rolls 
over and dies. Room all in flames. 
Loud explosion. IVix and Red Dog 
covered with debris and rear of 
building blown out showing land- 
scape at sunrise. Cavalry seen 
descending bluff. 

DROP-CURTAIN. 



08 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 



ACT V, 

SCENE. Sitting room in Major 
Dan Corbtn's house on the Cheyenne. 
Everything indicating ease and good 
circumstances. Lamp ivith elegant 
shade on table rights lit. Door with 
heavy portieres, R. R. Fireplace 
with bright wood fire in it in center 
of rear scene. Large imr^dow to left 
of fireplace. Large easy chair to 
right of fireplace. Other chairs and 
rockers about room. Door, L. Small 
table rear of door, L. Rugs and fur 
mats on flocn\ Several Indian 
trinkets on wall. Snowstorm out- 
side, wind moaning and whistling 
outside. Storm beats against window. 

Enter Major Dan Corbin at 
door, L. followed by Smudge. 

Major. I fear, Smudge, this snow- 
storm will turn into a blizzard. 

Smudge. It roars and sizzes like a 
blizzard already. Whenever the store 
door ie opened, the snow blows in like 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 99 

jehu. [Wind whistles and hisses.] 
Ijisteo to that, Major. Thai sounds like 
a blizzard, don't it? 

Major. Yes, it's a blizzard— a regular 
old Dakota blizzard, Mark. | 

Smudge. It sounds odd when you 
call me, Mark. 

Major. Well, that's your name, boy. 
Rose has ordered that you be called by 
that name. You were named after your 
father. 

Smudge. Ham always called me, 
Smudge. 

Major. Well, you can settle that 
matter, when Ham comes back. He 
said in his last letter, we might expect 
him any day. 

Smudge. Ham has been gone quite 
awhile. Over two years. Ever since the 
day you and Rose were married. He 
went back to Kentucky. 

Major. Yes, to his old home. 

Smudge. Do you know why Ham 
left his old home and cam** out here 
among the Indians? 

Major. Some love affair that went 
wrong with him. I imagine, when Ham 
loves, he loves hard. 

Smudge. How long is it sine© Ham 
first came here? 



100 THE PJERRE TRAIL. 

Major. Twenty years. 

Smudge. Didn't he write to his 
folks? 

Major. Not a word. 
(Smudcre. Rose says, Ham is an edu- 
cated gentleman. I wonder why they 
named him. Ham. 

Major. That is an abbreviation of his 
name, Hamilton. His proper name is 
Hamilton Morden. 

Smudge. Rose says his people were 
rich. 

Major. Yes, very rich. Ham has 
gone back after his money. 

Smudge. I don't see how a man like 
Ham could live with an ugly old squaw 
like Wix. 

Major. When Ham first came among 
the Sioux he was a hard drinker. Drink 
will dull the nature and coarsen the 
tastes of the best and most refined of 
men. [Wind ivhistles and storm heats 
against window.^ Whew! the blizzard is 
growing worse every moment. Has 
Mahzahskah come with the mail? 

Smudge. No, sir. I'm afraid, if he 
hasn't stopped somewhere for the night 
out of this storm, he'll be frozen to 
death. 

Major. It's bad — bad! Heavens, what 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 101 
if fiam should be with Mahzahskab! 

Enter Rose with babe in her 
anus at door, R. R. 

Rose. {Anxiously.) Is Ham comiug 
to-night? 

Major. Well, well; mother Rose and 
h«f baby! 

Rose. You did not answer my 
question, Dao. Is Ham coming to- 
night? 

Major.. Don't worry, little mother! 
You know in his last letter he said, we 
might expect him any day. But there 
is no certainty of his coming to-night. 
Give me the baby, dear. [Rose gives 
him baby.} Come to your father! My 
how our boy grows! 

Smudge. He's a perfect giant. 
{Major sits with baby in easy chair 
right of fireplace. Smudge stands 
near him and plays with baby. 

" Rose goes to window. Wind shrieks 
and storm beats against window^ 

Rose. This is a terrible night! A 
terrible blizzard! 

Major. {Tossing baby.) Up you eo, 
and down you come. 

Rose. Dan, if Ham comes from town, 
how will he come? 



102 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Major. With Mahzahskah in the 
Btage. 

Rose. {Anxiously.) Do you think he 
will come? 

Major. Possibly.— Possibly! Mahzah- 
skah has been watching for him, and 
has met him at the train, if he came. 
Don't worry, dear. The stage is well 
covered, and Maz has plenty of robes 
with him. I see that he always takes 
them with him at this time of the year. 
There is no knowing when they may be 
needed. 

Rose. {Abstractedly.) Lost in a bliz- 
zard! 

M^jor. Great heading for an article 
in an eastern newspaper. 

Rose. {Looking out window.) Ham 
Morden lost in a blizzard! 

Major. Pshaw, dear! they could keep 
warm in that stage with those robes for 
two days. And besides, Ham may not 
come. As for Mahzahskah, whoever 
heard of a frozen Indian! 

Rose. Dan, this is Christmas eve. 
Somehow I am impressed, that Ham 
would think of this, and come tonight. 

Major. You wrote Ham about this 
little Ham. didn't you? 

Rose. Yes, Dan. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL.. 103 

Mjijor. {Jumping up.) By George! I 
believe he will come. 

Rose. I will go up stairs amii seta 
light in the west window. 

[Exit Hose at door, R. R. 

Smudge. Rose is awfully worried 
about Ham. 

Major. It 18 a bad night. , 

Smudge. Yes, to get lost in. 

Enter Rose at door, R R. 

Rose. That light may help them. 

Major. Take baby, Rose, while I put 
some more wood on the fire. [Rose 
takes baby and sits in easy chair right 
of fireplace. Smudge near. Major puts 
wood on fire.^ There is nothing like a 
good fire on a night like this. [Fire 
flames up chimney.] Santa Glaus will 
have a cold drive of it. If he is caught 
in this blizzard and frozen, how the 
eastern papers will roar until he is 
thawed out. 

Rose. If Ham were only here, we 
would all be so happy. 

Major, I tell you, dear, Ham will be 
all right. He is no tenderfoot. 

[Smudge pulls off baby's stocking. 

Smudge. That's what I want. I'm 
going to hang it up for Santa Glaus. 



104 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

[Havgs hahifs stocking from viantel- 
piece over fireplace.] There grand- 
father Santa Chius, if you don't put 
something in that little stocking- 
Major. We'll advertise you in the 
eastern papefs. 

Smudge. {To Hose.) Let m© take baby 
a HJtUe while, sister. 

Rose. You must be very careful cot 
to drop him. 

Smudge. {Taking huby.) I won't, if he 
don't squirm like thunder, 

[Rose rises and Smudge sits down 
in easy chair with baby.. Rose 
crosses to window. Major stajids 
with back to /ire. 
Major. T'wae the night before Christ- 
mas. 
When all through the house' 
Not a cr«»ature was stirring. 
Not even a mouse — 

Enter at door, L, Hans Fleder- 
m,au8. He is covered with snow, 
and carrying a small Christ- 
mas tree. Me is followed by 
Katreena. She is so bundled up 
that not even her eyes are 
visible. 

Hans. Mein Gott, vot a vett«r! 



THE PIERRE TRAIL.. 105 

Ach! I been near frozen. Und mein frau, 
Katreena — Katreena, how's der dwin's? 
Katreena. {In muffled voice.) Shoost 
so varm as zuramer. 

Major. Why, it's Hans and Katreena! 
Flow in the world did you find your way 
in this blizzard? 

Hans. I shoost made it, und dot's all. 
{Extending hand.) You don't oxpect us 
to-night, Major? 

Major. {Shaking Hans'' hand.) Thank 
heaven, you came 8af<»ly through! 
Hans. Dank you. Major, dank you! 
vlajor. Come, Rose, help Katreena off 
with her wraps. Come up by the fire, 
Hans. Here, give me youi* coat and hat. 
[Hans goes to fire. Major takes 
his coat and hat^ and puts them 
left. Rose assists Katreena. As 
wrups are removed^ a pair of twins 
about six months old appear. 
They are dressed in old German 
style. 
Rose. It is a good thing, Katreena, 
you were so well wrapped up. 

Katreena. Yab. Mrs. Corbin, dot 

saves dee dwins. , 

Rose. {Moving chair up by fire, left.) 

Take this chair, Katreena, by the fire. 

You roust be cold. 



106 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Katreena. Oh, oo-oo! I vas varni all 
der time, A.ber dee dwins miofht be a 
liddle cold. 

[Sits in chair by fire- 

Smudge. (Rising.) Here, sister, take 
him. He's beginning to squirm. 

[Rose takes baby. 

Katreena. {Noticing baby^s stocking 
hung from mantel.) Oh, Hans, look 
vonce! A liddle shtoging by der 
shimney for Zauta Glaus. Am't dot 
cute! 

Hans. Dot is liddle Ham's stoging. 

Smudge. Here, give me your babies' 
stockings, Katreena, and I'll hang them 
up, too. 

Katreena. lo vone minuet, Mark. 
[Takes off tioins^ stockings.] Here iss 
Katreena's, (Gives Smudge little blue 
stocking.) und here iss Hans'. 

[Gives him little red stocking. He 
hangs them from mantel. 

Hans. Smooch, you vas mein own 
poy. I bin your fater. V"ell, Major, of 
you oxcuse me, I bin varm now. I 
shoost go oud in der ohtore und 
schraoke. I like to buy soraedings, too, 
pefore I forget him. (Picks up hat.) 
Mein house is too weit von here, Major, 
und der shtorm iss so bad — I hope Mrs. 



TKE PIERRE TRAIL. 107 

Corbin x^e don't make you some droiible, 
— but ve like to ehtay here to-night. 

Rose. Hans, you and your wife are 
part of our family. To the best wo have, 
you and Katreena are ever welcome. 

Hans. Dank you, Rosy, dank you. 
Und Major, oxcuqb me. 

[Salutes Major. Exit at door, L. 
Rose. Come, Katreena, we will go up 
stairs. There is a good fire up there. 
As soon as we put the babies to sleep, 
we will come down and get some 
supper. 

[Exeunt Rose loith baby and 

Katreena with twins at door, R. H. 

Smudge picks up Christmas tree 

and exits at door, L. 

Major. If Ham has oome, Mahzahskah 

will surely pull him through. That 

Indian can read nature as I read print. 

What to me would be no guide at all, 

would be to him as a shining light. 

Enter Ham covered ivith snow 
at door, L. He is followed by 

M xhzahskah. 

Ham. Dan! 

Major. {Turning and grasping 
Ham's hand.) Ham! [Ham takes, off 
over-coat.) Mahzahskah, you brought 



108 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

him through all right! 

Mahzahskah. Yes, bring um— pretty 
near go over bluff. 

Ham. But we saw the light— it's 
misty glow. We drove towards it, and 
it brought us here. But for that light» 
we would have gone astray. Who set 
that light there, Dan? 

Major. Rose. 

Ham. [Affected.) Caliber. 

Major. She worried dreadfully for 
your safety. 

Ham. Why not? I am her father. 

Major. I will go, and call her. 

Ham. (Noticing little stockings.) 
What little stockings are those? 

Major. The red and the blue belong 
to Hans' twins. 

Ham. So Hans has twins! 

Major. No, his wife, Katreena. 

Ham. You caught me there, Dan. 
But there are three. The little white 
one, to whom does.it belong? 

Major. To Ham — ray baby boy, little 
Ham, 

Ham. {Sinking into easy chair 
right of fireplace^) Go, call the mother. 

Major. Rose 18 up stairs. 

[Exit Mixjor at door, R. R. 

Ham. After a hard struggle, I 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 109 

obtained my own. They hated to let 
go, but the law was inexorable. So, 
they paid me my money, and I left. 
How strange, a brother should be so 
selfish. (Rises.) Come here, Maz. [Ham 
takes out roll of bills. Maiizakskah, who 
is standing near table, L. advances to 
Ham.) You did wonderful in that 
blizzard, Mahzahskah, Here is a 
Christmas present for you; 

[Givefi him bunch of bills. 

Mahzahskah. Ugh, washtay! Koh- 
lahskah washtay! Bill—plenty bill! 

[Exit at door, L. 

Ham. {Looking at reniaimny bills in 
hand, deprecatingly.) Money! {Thrusts 
bills into pocket.) Together with what 
the tin box contained, my fortune now 
sums up, two hundred and eighty 
thousand dollars. Not for myself, do I 
value this money, but for the children 
of her whose sad, cruel, death, I 
witnessed. Ah, but Rose is my child-^ 
my own dear daughter — on that terrible 
night Pate gave her to me. My name 
may bear some stains, but with its 
stains, she gave it to the child. 
Hamilton Morden Corbin! Perhaps, 
what I shall do for him while I live, and 
by my death, will help to wash those 



110 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

Btains away. This is Cbristmas eve, 
and I am here. Now, Lo the purpose. 
{Rises, and takes out large pocket-hook) 
I have fifteen one thousand dollar bills. 
I'll put seven of thera in little Ham's 
stocking, 3ust for a Christmas gift. {Puts 
money in little white stocking.) Those 
other two— Poor little thingsl What's 
money good for, but to make others 
happy! Here goes a thousand for each 
of the twins. {Puts a bill in little red 
stocking, and one in the blue.) There, 
so much for the babies and Christmas. 

Enter Rose at door, R. R. 
followed by Major carrying 
baby, and Katreena with the 
twins. 

Rose. Ham! 

Ham. Rose, my daughter! 
[Embraces her with emotion and 
fondness. Holding to her hand he 
drops down in easy chair right of 
fireplace and weeps with bowed 
head. Rose gently withdraws handy 
and takes baby from Major and 
holds it before Ham. 
Rose. Big Ham— little Ham. Hah, 
washtay! 
Major. This is our son, Ham. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. Ill 

Hamilton Morden Corbin. 

[Ham looks up at baby, hut is so 

overcome with emotion he does not 

speuk. He tukes baby, and Rose 

kneels right of chair. 

Ham. {Holding up baby.) God bless 

this little babe, and make him all that I 

was not: a good man; a noble man; a 

moral man. 

Rose. Ham, Ham, you have a cruel 
conscience. God knows, at heart, you 
are th*^ best of men. 

[Turns to Rose and smiles through 
his tears. 
Ham. (Touching himself .) Bad Ham. 
(Holds up babe.) Good Ham. Ugh, 
washtay! 

Enter Mahzahskah at door L. 
Sits down quietly and unobtru- 
sively at table, L. 
Katreena. Ah, Mr. Morden, I vas so 
glat to see you. 

Ham. Give me the twins too, 
Katreena. (Laughs.) I am an old 
grandfather, and Iova all the children 
of my family. 

Katreena. You vas der best man, irot 
I know. 

[Puts twins in Ham^s arms, one 
»n eaeh side of little Ham, Kneels 



112 THE PIERRE TRAIL.. 
to left of Harass chair. 
Enter Hans at door, L. 

Hans. Oh! Mr. Ham, I vas so glat to 
Bee you pack again. {Looks at Ham with 
babies and begins to cry.) Oh, nay! Oh, 
my! 

Katreena, Vot's der matter, Hans? 

Hans. I gan't help it. Eferyding 
looks so pooty. 

[Sleigh-bells outside, L. Mahzah- 
skah jumps up. 

Mahzahskah. (Clapping hands, and 
dancing and sivging, Indian fashion.) 
Ay-yah, ay-yah, ay-yah. Ugh, washtayl 
Washta-a-a-y! 

Enter Smudge at door, L. 
rigged up as Santa Claus with 
buffalo robe, fur cap, sack on 
back, arid sleigh-bells. Carries 
small Christmas tree, lit up and 
hui}g ivith glittering trinkets. 
Sets tree on table, L. Mahzah- 
skah sits at table, L. Expresses 
great admiration for tree. 

Smudge. {Going towards fireplace.) 
Good children, sleep, sleep, sleep. 

Ham. Too late, old Santa Claus! 
Someone is ahead of you. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 113 

[Rose and Katreena spring vp, and 

rush to stockings. Rose takes down 

little white stocking, and Katreena, 

the red and the blue. 

RoBe, {Examining little stocking,) 

Look, look, Dan, what is in our boy's 

stocking! 

[Moj()r takes money out of stocking. 
Major. Money! Bright new paper 
money! Seven thousand dollars. Oh, 
Ham! this is too much. 

Ham. A trifle, Dan, of what parental 
lov« delights to give to Rose and hers. 

Katreena. {Biisy with twins' stock- 
ings.) Oh, Hans! shoost look vonce vot 
iss in der pabies' stogings. 

[Gives Hans hills. 
Hans. Mein Gott im bimmel! I neffer 
saw such big money pefore in my life. 
Swei vone tousand dollar bills. 

Katreeea. Ob, Mr, Ham— Mr. Mor- 
den- 
Ham. No thanks, Katreena. It will 
give the little ones something to meet 
the world with, when the time comes.^ 
[Katreena takes twins. Sits and 
puts stockings on them. Ham rises. 
Rose takes baby, .$its down in chair 
vacated by Ham and puts on 
baby^s stocking. 



114 THE PrEKRE TRAIL.. 

Smudge. {Throwing off cap, robe 
and SLkCk.) I wish I'd hung up my 
stocking. 

Ham. You are all right, ^my boy. 
I am your banker. When you want 
money, draw on me at sight. Here is a 
little change for the present. 

[Gives him roll of bill. 

Smudge. {Examining bills.) Holy 

Moses! Here, Maz, is your Christmas. 

[Offers MahzahskctJi a bill. 

Mabzahskab. {Rising.) No, Ham give 
um. Got Christmas already. {Shows 
bills.) Ugh, heap Christmas. Washtay! 

Smudge. Well. Maz. you take the 
tree, anyway. He can have it, can't 
he, Hans? 

Hans. Sure! Sure! 

Mahzahskah. {Delighted.) Ugh, can to 
washtay! 

[Sits and admires tree. 

Ham. Hans, my German friena, you 
saved my live once at a moment wben 
my death would have brought horrible 
misery to Rose. For the present, there 
is no other way to repay you but this. 
(Takes out large pocket-book.) Here 
is five thousand dollars for yourself — 
and Katreena. The twins have had 
their Christmas. 



THE PIERRE TRAIL. 115 

[Offers Hans money. 

Haoe. But Mr, Morden — 

Ham. Take it, Hans, 

Hans. (Taking money.) Mr. Morden, 
I gan't oxpress my dankfulnegs. I bin 
too stobbed oop in der neck. (Wipes 
eyes and makes gagging click in 
throat. Aside.) Dot don't mean shack- 
rabbit now. 

Ham. Dan, you and I will go into 
business together. Will you take me as 
a partner? 

Major. Most assuredly. 

Ham. I shall put twenty five thou- 
sand in the store, and one hundred 
thousand in horses and cattle. 

Major. We'll own the country in a 
few years! 

Ham. All for the children, Dan,— for 
the children. Come here, daughter. 
(Rose rises with babe in her arms and 
goes to Ham.) And you too, son. 
[Smudge goes to Ham.] Rose, I have 
set aside eighty thousand dollars for 
you and Smudge. 1^^o^ty thousand for 
you, and forty thousand for him. 
Yours, I will give you, now. Here is a 
draft, daughter, for forty thousand 
dollars. [Katreena interested, risen. 
Hans takes one of the twins. Ham 



lui 28 %m ' 



116 THE PIERRE TRAIL. 

gives Rose draft.] I shall act as trustee 
for Smudge until he is of age. I have 
securely invested his money at seven per 
cent. That will give bim an annual 
income of twenty eight hundred dollars. 

Smudge. Gee-whimity-jim! 

Ham. That will clothe and educate 
you, boy. Besides, daughter, I have 
willed everything to you and Smudge 
with the exception of a special bequest 
to my little nameeake in your arms. 

Rose. But, father flam, you may 
marry, and — 

Ham. Until I do, the will shall 
stand. I shall never marry. My life, I 
have dedicated to her. {Looks up.) 
When the spring comes, daughter, (Puts 
right arm about her.) and the crocuses 
bloom upon the bluffs, you and I, and 
Smudge {Puts left arm about Smudge,) 
and Dan, will go down the Pierre trail 
in search of your mother's grai^e. 

CURTAIN. 



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